THE ENLIGHTENMENT THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE AMERICAN AND THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

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Enlightenment Enlightenment In France, readers smiled as they read the In France, readers smiled as they read the

Persian Letters. This collection , published in Persian Letters. This collection , published in 1721, commented on many aspects of French 1721, commented on many aspects of French Society. Readers knew that the authors, Society. Readers knew that the authors, Persian travelers named Usbek and Rica, were Persian travelers named Usbek and Rica, were not real. not real.

For a while people did not know who For a while people did not know who published the letters, but they would soon find published the letters, but they would soon find out. out.

Montesquieu had published the book secretly Montesquieu had published the book secretly because people could be punished for because people could be punished for criticizing the king or the Church. criticizing the king or the Church.

These letters would soon bring a movement These letters would soon bring a movement known as the Enlightenment. This movement known as the Enlightenment. This movement sought to shine a light of reason on traditional sought to shine a light of reason on traditional ideas about government and society. ideas about government and society.

Philosophy in the Age of Philosophy in the Age of Reason Reason

Using the methods of modern science, Using the methods of modern science, reformers set out to study human reformers set out to study human behavior and solve the problems of behavior and solve the problems of society. society.

The Enlightenment grew out of the The Enlightenment grew out of the Scientific Revolution of the 1500s and Scientific Revolution of the 1500s and 1600s, with its amazing discoveries by 1600s, with its amazing discoveries by thinkers like Copernicus and Newtonthinkers like Copernicus and Newton

Natural Law- Laws that govern human Natural Law- Laws that govern human nature.nature.

Two Views of the Social Two Views of the Social ContractContract

In the 1600s, two English thinkers, Thomas In the 1600s, two English thinkers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke had to different Hobbes and John Locke had to different views on society. views on society.

Thomas Hobbes set out his ideas in a work Thomas Hobbes set out his ideas in a work titled titled LeviathanLeviathan. Hobbes argued that people . Hobbes argued that people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish.were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish.

To escape that brutish life Hobbes said To escape that brutish life Hobbes said “people had to enter into a “people had to enter into a social social contractcontract, or an agreement by which they , or an agreement by which they gave up the state of nature for an organized gave up the state of nature for an organized society. society.

Two Views of the Social Two Views of the Social ContractContract

John Locke had a more optimistic view of John Locke had a more optimistic view of human nature. People were basically human nature. People were basically reasonable and moral, he said. Further, they reasonable and moral, he said. Further, they had natural rights, or rights that belonged had natural rights, or rights that belonged to all human form birth. These included the to all human form birth. These included the right to life, liberty, and property. right to life, liberty, and property.

If a government fails its obligations or If a government fails its obligations or violates peoples natural rights, the people violates peoples natural rights, the people have the right to overthrow the have the right to overthrow the government. This right to revolution would government. This right to revolution would echo through Europe, in Britain’s North echo through Europe, in Britain’s North American colonies, and around the world in American colonies, and around the world in the centuries that followed. the centuries that followed.

Montesquieu Spirit of the LawsMontesquieu Spirit of the Laws Then in 1700 Montesquieu talked about Then in 1700 Montesquieu talked about

governments functioning better if they governments functioning better if they divided into three separate branches. divided into three separate branches.

LegislatureLegislature Executive Executive Judiciary Judiciary To him, the separation of powers was the To him, the separation of powers was the

best way to protect liberty. best way to protect liberty. His book appeared in France and the ideas His book appeared in France and the ideas

of separation of powers and checks and of separation of powers and checks and balances in government were written into balances in government were written into the Constitution of the U.S. the Constitution of the U.S.

The World of the PhilosophersThe World of the Philosophers

In France, a group of Enlightenment In France, a group of Enlightenment thinkers applied the methods of thinkers applied the methods of science to better understand and science to better understand and improve society. These thinkers were improve society. These thinkers were called philosophes.called philosophes.

Philosophers included:Philosophers included: Voltaire- “ I do not agree with a word Voltaire- “ I do not agree with a word

that you say,” he said “but I will defend that you say,” he said “but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”to the death your right to say it.”

Denis Diderot- labored some 25 years Denis Diderot- labored some 25 years to produce a 28-volume Encyclopedia to produce a 28-volume Encyclopedia

EncyclopediaEncyclopedia Diderot Encyclopedia to the French Diderot Encyclopedia to the French

was an attack on public morals, while was an attack on public morals, while the pope threatened to the pope threatened to excommunicate Catholics who excommunicate Catholics who bought or read the volumes. bought or read the volumes.

Despite efforts to ban it, 20,000 Despite efforts to ban it, 20,000 copies were printed between 1751, copies were printed between 1751, and 1789. This work did much to and 1789. This work did much to shape French public opinion in the shape French public opinion in the mid 1700s. When translated into mid 1700s. When translated into different languages it helped spread different languages it helped spread the Enlightenment every where.the Enlightenment every where.

Sorry Women Sorry Women

Natural Rights for women would not Natural Rights for women would not come though till later on. come though till later on.

The Enlightenment slogan “free and The Enlightenment slogan “free and equal” did not apply to women. equal” did not apply to women. Women did have “natural rights,” Women did have “natural rights,” said the philosophes. But unlike the said the philosophes. But unlike the natural rights fo men, these rights natural rights fo men, these rights were limited to the areas of home were limited to the areas of home and family. and family.

Enlightenment ThinkersEnlightenment Thinkers Thomas Hobbes-Thomas Hobbes- People were driven by People were driven by

selfishness and greed. To avoid chaos they selfishness and greed. To avoid chaos they need to give up their freedom to the need to give up their freedom to the government. government.

John Lock-John Lock- People have a natural right to life, People have a natural right to life, liberty, and property. Rulers have a liberty, and property. Rulers have a responsibility to protect those rights, People responsibility to protect those rights, People have the right to change the government. have the right to change the government.

Baron de Montesquieu-Baron de Montesquieu- the powers of the powers of government should be separated into 3 government should be separated into 3 stages legislative, executive, and judicial. To stages legislative, executive, and judicial. To prevent any one group from gaining to much prevent any one group from gaining to much power. power.

Jean Jacques Rousseau-Jean Jacques Rousseau- People are People are basically good but become corrupted by basically good but become corrupted by society. In an ideal society, people would society. In an ideal society, people would make the laws and would obey them willingly. make the laws and would obey them willingly.

New Economic Thinking New Economic Thinking

Other thinkers the Physiocrats, focused on Other thinkers the Physiocrats, focused on economic reforms. They looked for natural economic reforms. They looked for natural laws to define a rational economic system. laws to define a rational economic system.

They rejected mercantilism, which They rejected mercantilism, which required government regulation to achieve required government regulation to achieve a favorable balance of trade. Instead they a favorable balance of trade. Instead they urged a policy of Laissez faire – which urged a policy of Laissez faire – which allowed business to operate with little or allowed business to operate with little or no government interference. no government interference.

They claimed that real wealth came form They claimed that real wealth came form making land more productive. making land more productive.

Adam Smith Adam Smith He argued that the free market, the natural He argued that the free market, the natural

forces of supply and demand, should be forces of supply and demand, should be allowed to operate and regulate business. allowed to operate and regulate business.

A Strong supporter of Laissez faire, Smith A Strong supporter of Laissez faire, Smith believed that the marketplace was better believed that the marketplace was better off with out any government regulation. At off with out any government regulation. At the same time, however, he did believe that the same time, however, he did believe that government had a duty to protect society, government had a duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public administer justice, and provide public works. works.

His ideas would gain increasing influence as His ideas would gain increasing influence as the Industrial Revolution spread across the Industrial Revolution spread across Europe and beyond. His emphasis on the Europe and beyond. His emphasis on the free market and the law of supply and free market and the law of supply and demand would help to shape immensely demand would help to shape immensely productive economies in the 1800s and productive economies in the 1800s and 1900s. 1900s.