Enlightenment Ideas

​Enlightenment Thinkers

By Meredith EastWakeMS

Enlightenment Thinkers: Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire

John Locke

Key Ideas:

Everyone has natural rights: life, liberty, property

Government should protect people’s rights

Problem He Saw:

Kings had too much power

People couldn’t say no to unfair rules

Example Quote:

“All men are by nature… equal and independent”

How it Can Change the World:

People can ask for their rights

Governments should listen to citizens

Multiple Choice

What did John Locke believe?

• Kings should have all pow

• People have natural rights

• People should never question the government

• Only rich people should vote

Montesquieu

Key Ideas:

Government should have 3 branches: make laws, enforce laws, check laws

This keeps one person from having all power

Problem He Saw:

Rulers could be unfair if they have all power

Example Quote:

“When the legislative and executive powers are together… there can be no liberty”

How it Can Change the World:

Dividing power protects freedom

Multiple Choice

Montesquieu wanted governments to…

• Give one person all power

• Have three branches of government

• Let kings decide everything

• Stop people from voting

Rousseau

Key Ideas:

People should make rules together

Everyone should be treated equally

Problem He Saw:

Some people had too much power

Laws were unfair to common people

Example Quote:

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

How it Can Change the World:

Citizens can vote and help make fair laws

Multiple Choice

Rousseau believed that…

• People should have no say in government

• Only kings should make laws

• People should work together to make fair laws

• Some people are naturally better than others

Voltaire

Key Ideas:

Everyone should have freedom of speech and religion

People should speak out against unfair rules

Problem He Saw:

Governments punished people for speaking their minds

People could not believe what they wanted

Example Quote:

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

How it Can Change the World:

People can stand up for their rights

Governments must respect people’s choices

Multiple Choice

Voltaire wanted…

• People to be silent

• Freedom to speak and believe what you want

• Kings to have all power

• No laws at all