Age of Enlightenment- Age of Enlightenment- New Political Ideas and New Political Ideas and Challenging Monarchy Challenging Monarchy

1600-17701600-1770

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Main IdeasMain Ideas• Establishes the idea of a social contract- an Establishes the idea of a social contract- an

agreement between the government and the peopleagreement between the government and the people• Wants government to have complete control- Wants government to have complete control-

Leviathan Leviathan • Has a negative view of human nature- people are Has a negative view of human nature- people are

too corrupt to govern themselves too corrupt to govern themselves Influence on HistoryInfluence on History• Social contractSocial contract• Continues to influence politicians that focus on Continues to influence politicians that focus on

maintaining order maintaining order

John LockeJohn Locke• Main IdeasMain Ideas - Establishes the importance of - Establishes the importance of natural natural

rightsrights - Positive view of human nature - Positive view of human nature - Universal ability to reason = people - Universal ability to reason = people should be able to govern themselvesshould be able to govern themselves• Influence on HistoryInfluence on History - Influences all of the Founding Fathers of - Influences all of the Founding Fathers of

the the United States (Jefferson, Adams, Madison)United States (Jefferson, Adams, Madison) - Natural rights --> Declaration of- Natural rights --> Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Locke’s influence on the Founding FathersLocke’s influence on the Founding Fathers

“ “ We hold these truths to We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all be self-evident, that all men are created equal, men are created equal, that they are endowed by that they are endowed by their Creator with certain their Creator with certain unalienable Rightsunalienable Rights, that , that among these are among these are Life, Life, Liberty, and the Liberty, and the pursuit of Happinesspursuit of Happiness.” .”

Political SpectrumPolitical Spectrum

VoltaireVoltaire

Main IdeasMain Ideas• Wants a separation between Church and State- Wants a separation between Church and State-

no theocraciesno theocracies• Openly mocks monarchs, clergy, and politiciansOpenly mocks monarchs, clergy, and politicians• CandideCandide is one of the most famous satirical works is one of the most famous satirical works

in history.in history.Influence on HistoryInfluence on History• Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve

freedom of speech, thought and expressionfreedom of speech, thought and expression• Reduces the amount of censorship by European Reduces the amount of censorship by European

MonarchsMonarchs• Encourages religious toleranceEncourages religious tolerance

Current Examples of Political Current Examples of Political SatireSatire

MontesquieuMontesquieuMain IdeasMain Ideas • Wanted a system of checks and balance Wanted a system of checks and balance • Separation of power- no one person has Separation of power- no one person has

too much powertoo much powerInfluence on HistoryInfluence on History • Constitutions around world use the idea of Constitutions around world use the idea of

separation of powerseparation of power• French RevolutionFrench Revolution• 3 Branches of U.S. government- system of 3 Branches of U.S. government- system of

checks and balancechecks and balance

RousseauRousseau

Main IdeasMain Ideas• Had a positive view of peopleHad a positive view of people• The different parts of society corrupts the The different parts of society corrupts the

individual individual • Wanted each individual person to Wanted each individual person to

participate in democracyparticipate in democracyInfluence on HistoryInfluence on History• Direct democracyDirect democracy• American and French RevolutionsAmerican and French Revolutions

Common People participating Common People participating in Revolutions in Revolutions

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft

Main IdeasMain Ideas

• Supported women’s rightsSupported women’s rights

• Wanted gender equality for voting Wanted gender equality for voting rights and property rightsrights and property rights

Influence / Long term effectsInfluence / Long term effects

• Women eventually gain the right to Women eventually gain the right to vote and equality through lawsvote and equality through laws