Enlightenment Ideas and Influence on Government

What is the Enlightment

• European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

• European intellectual movement of the late 16th and 17th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

• The agreement by which people define and limit their individual rights thus creating an organised society or government

• A body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct.

What are Natural Rights?

• Prosperity, opportunity, liberty

• Life, Liberty, and Property

• Reason, nature, and happiness

• tolerance, equal , property

What did John Locke believe in?

• Fought for pure liberty for everyone, freedom was his goal, tolerance and freedom of religion.

• A French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755).

• Believed that all people are born free, and that every human being has the three Natural Rights; Life, Liberty, and Property

• Fought for Women rights and equality, and that women should be able to go to school.

What did Montesquieu believe in?

• A French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers.

• Believed in Social Contracts, he believed that all humans are wicked and cruel.

• Enlightened thinker that believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking.

• The inventor of the Encyclopedia.

Who is Voltaire?

• English philosopher who believed that all people are evil; believed in a dictatorship.

• Made the Social Contract. He said that everyone agrees to be governed by a general will or what society as a whole wants to happen

• Writer who fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech

• A French man who believed that Human beings are naturally good & free & can rely on their instincts. Government should exist to protect common good, and be a democracy.

Who is Thomas Jefferson?

• French nobleman famous for his ideas on government and law.

• Wrote The Spirit of the Laws proposing 3 separate branches of government to separate power.

• He emphasized predestination and righteous living (high moral standards).

• Main author of the Declaration of Independence. Promoted ideals of republicanism in the United States.

What are the Separation of Powers?

• Change government and society by using reason to improve/perfect the world and influence change globally.

• A form of government in which the executive, legislative and judicial branches limit and control each other through a system of checks and balances.

• Many female thinkers began to express their ideas about improving the condition of women.

• Separation of the legislature branch.

What is the Laissez-Faire?

• The concept that the state should not impose government regulations but should leave the economy alone.

• Advocated religious tolerance and freedom of speech and press, which was influential in France and the United States.

• Looked for natural laws governing people's social and political behavior.

• French for "philosopher"; applied to all intellectuals during the Enlightenment.

Which groups played the greatest role in the Enlightenment?

• explorers and adventurers

• scientists and scholars

• peasants and farmers

• soldiers and military leaders

In which part of the world did the Enlightenment begin?

• The United States

• South America

• Europe

• Asia