The Enlightenment

​The Enlightenment

• I can identify the major ideas of the Enlightenment from the writings of Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, and their relationship to politics and society.

Learning Targets

• Late 1600s-early 1800s

• Age of Reason

• a cultural and intellectual movement in Europe that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition, superstition, and absolute authority

• Application of the Scientific Revolution

• Will lead to the Age of Revolutions

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The Enlightenment

• 1632-1704

• English

• Main Work: Two Treatises of Government (1690)

• Social Contract existed between the government and the people

• Natural Rights: Life, Liberty, Property

  • Government protects these rights

• Against taxation without representation

• Right to overthrow the government

John Locke

• Inspired much of the Declaration of Independence which includes the line "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"

• No taxation without representation

• American colonies overthrew the British government

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USA Comparison

• 1689-1755

• French

• Main Work: The Spirit of the Laws (1748)

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances to prevent tryanny

• Laws should reflect the people, not the monarch

Montesquieu

• Three branches of the US government

  • Legislative (makes the laws)

  • Judicial (interprets the laws)

  • Executive (enforces the laws)

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USA Comparison

• 1694-1778

• French

• Main Work: Letters on England (1734), Candide (1759)

• Used wit and satire to criticize the French government

• Against slave trade, inequality, prejudice

• For religious freedom and freedom of speech

Voltaire

• Inspired 1st Amendment to the Constitution

  • freedom of religion

  • freedom of speech

• Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1

  • "importation of persons...shall not be prohibited by Congress before the year 1808"

• Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves (1807)

  • signed by President Jefferson

  • went into effect January 1, 1808

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USA Comparison

• 1712-1778

• Swiss/French

• Main Work: The Social Contract (1762)

• Against strong governments

• Government is necessary, but should have minimum power

• Freely elected governments

• Collective good above individuals

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

USA Comparison

• Democracy - more direct participation, the more local the government

• Republic - elected representatives

• Right to vote

  • States choose voting eligibility 1787

  • 15th Amendment 1870 (race)

  • 19th Amendment 1920 (gender)

  • 24th Amendment 1964 (poll tax)

  • 26th Amendment 1971 (age)