The Enlightenment

Time period in Europe during the 17th & 18th Centuries when Philosophers began applying the concept of reason to the political environment and challenged absolutism (unlimited government).

• Scientific Revolution

• Renaissance

• Enlightenment

• Middle Ages

Philosopher who believed in natural rights and a social contract in order to have government. Believed the job of government was to protect peoples’ natural rights.

• Locke

• Montesquieu

• Rousseau

• Voltaire

The concept that people have to agree to be governed. If the government fails to protect their rights, people can revolt and abolish the government.

• Separation of powers

• Freedom of speech

• Freedom of religion

• Social Contract

Philosopher who believed in Popular sovereignty

• Locke

• Rousseau

• Montesquieu

• Voltaire

Government gets their power from the people and should respect the opinion of the majority

• Popular soverignty

• Social Contract

• Checks and Balances

• Separation of powers

Philosopher who believed that government should have separation of powers and checks and balances.

• Locke

• Montesquieu

• Rousseau

• Voltaire

Dividing power between different branches. Each branch as a separate job, and no one branch becomes too powerful.

• Freedom of Religion

• Popular Soverignty

• Separation of powers

• Capitalism

Philosopher who supported equal education and rights for women

• Wollstonecraft

• Locke

• Montesquieu

• Voltaire

Father of economics. His ideas are the basis of Capitalism

• Wollstonecraft

• Locke

• Rousseau

• Smith

A nation's economy is controlled by private individuals rather than the government

• Capitalism

• State of nature

• Mercantilism

• Separation of powers