The Enlightenment was an 18th century intellectual movement dominated by French thinkers that emphasized the importance of human reason and belief in man's ability to control his own destiny through change. French culture was highly influential across Europe during this time. The Enlightenment ideas of utility, merit, and skepticism helped erode the traditional culture of deference to aristocracy and supported the rising bourgeois class.

1. The Enlightenment

2.  The Enlightenment was an intellectual
movement in 18th century Europe, dominated by
French thinkers and writers
 During this time France was the leader in fashion
and styles of behaviour in Europe.
 French was spoken by nobles in all countries,
and European nobles avividly followed French
fashions in clothing, food, music art and
architecture

3.  Importance of human reason in guiding
government and society
 Belief that man could control their own
destiny ad that change was necessary to
destroy the inequality of the ancien regime
 Fermented a culture of scepticism, inquiry
and inquiry

5.  In ‘On Commerce’ in Letters on England
Voltaire argued in support of the bourgeoise,
as the most useful and productive members
of society.
 That a persons social important should not
relied on birth but on their utility (usefulness
n terms of productive labour) and merit
(terms of personal abilities)

6.  This idea served as a ‘levelling’ influence on
French society, rejecting the prestige of high
birth, which allowed aristocrats to dominate
high positions on government, church and army
often without suitable qualifications of skills
 Ideas about utility and merit infuse the
bourgeois with ideas about their own
importance and develop a bourgeois identity
and self confidence
 Contributes to eroding the culture of deference

8.  The separation of powers is an important
component of most modern democratic
politic systems. In simple terms, the
separation of powers requires that
government be divided into three branches:
the executive, the legislative and the judicial.
Each of these branches must operate
separately and no member of one branch
should also be a member of the other.

9.  The executive branch of the U.S. government is
headed up by the President of the United States.The
executive branch is responsible for, among other
things, carrying out the instructions that are given to
it by Congress.The executive branch can sign treaties,
and appoint members to posts, such as the federal
judiciary, and the federal executive departments, in
line with the advice and permission it receives from
the Senate.
 The President is the commander-in-chief of the
country’s armed forces, and he may veto any bills
passed by Congress. However, his veto can ultimately
be overturned by Congress.This is a built-in system
of checks and balances.

10. The executive branch is divided into several positions and departments:
President
Vice President
Executive Office of the President
Presidential Cabinet
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department ofTransportation
Department of theTreasury
Department ofVeterans Affairs

11.  The legislative branch is the branch of
government that is run by Congress. It is made
up of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.The legislative branch has the power to
pass bills, declare war, and ratify treaties.The
legislative branch is also solely responsible for
carrying out impeachments, and for conducting
the trials that take place before impeachments.
While the President can veto certain acts of
Congress, Congress also has the power to
override that veto by obtaining a two-thirds
majority vote from both the Senate and the
House of Representatives.

12.  The Supreme Court is at the head of the
judicial branch of the U.S. government.The
judicial branch reviews whether or not a law is
constitutional, in a process known as “judicial
review.” It also determines how Congress
meant laws to be interpreted at the time they
were written.The judicial branch can force
the production of evidence, as well as
testimony, by issuing a subpoena.

15.  Congress can pass legislation but the President can veto
(block) this legislation.
 If the President does veto legislation, Congress can
override this veto with a two-thirds majority.
 The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces
but only Congress can declare war.
 The President can appoint people to his cabinet but they
must be endorsed by the Congress.
 Congress can impeach (put on trial and dismiss) members
of the other branches, including the President.
 The Supreme Court can declare both the President’s
executive orders and Congress’ legislation to be
unconstitutional and invalid.

16.  ‘The Social Contact’ –
 ‘Man is born free and everywhere he is in
chains’
 Ideas about the GeneralWill and the
common good