The Enlightenment & the American Revolution

Ms. Garratt

Linkage of the Scientific Revolution to the Enlightenment

• Belief in Progress– The successes of the Scientific Revolution gave

philosophes the confidence that human reason could solve social problems.

• More secular Perspective– Scientists made discoveries that contradicted &

challenged religious teachings. • Importance of the Individual– People turned away from the Church & royalty for

guidance - looked to themselves.– Encouraged to use their own abilities & reason to

problem solve

Core Values of the Philosophes

• 1. Reason – truth could be discovered through reason

• 2. Happiness – rejected medieval belief that people should concentrate on finding happiness in the hereafter rather than finding contentment & joy in this world

• 3. Progress – Humankind could improve• 4. Liberty – called for liberties achieve from

the Glorious Revolution in the English Bill of Rights

“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death

your right to say it”

Voltaire

Voltaire• Prolific writer who used

satire against his enemies.• Attacked clergy, aristocrats

& gov• Fought for religious

freedom & speech.• Was jailed & exiled for his

beliefs.• Fought superstition,

intolerance and prejudice.• He corresponded directly

with many rulers

Hobbes

• Influenced by the English Civil War

• Human nature was wicked & life was like state of war

• Social Contract req’d people to give up liberties to an absolute monarch.

• In return they gain order & security.

• Wrote the Leviathan

Locke• Locke believed that

human nature was essentially good.

• Humans were born with natural rights of life, liberty, property…..

• Purpose of gov was to protect those rights

• If gov abused it’s authority as Britain had done people had a right to overthrow the gov

Locke’s Chief Influence

• Principles include:– Natural rights– Purpose of gov– Justification to overthrow

gov

– Author of the Two Treatise on Government

Montesquieu

• Believed the best organization of gov included:

• Separation of powers &• Checks and balances• SOP was by itself a C/B• Both ideas are part of

the US Constitution.• Wrote Spirit of the Laws

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

Rousseau

Rousseau

• Civilization corrupted man.• Only good gov had to be freely

formed & guided by the “general will” of society.

• Favored “direct democracy” in which individuals agree to give up some freedoms in favor of the common good.

• Consent of government• Titles of nobility should be

abolished• Influenced French Revolution/• Consent of the governed in US

Constitution

Beccaria

• Interested in the justice system

• Condemned torture & irregular procedings.

• Favored:– Speedy trial– Fair treatment– Punishment

commensurate with the crime

– Abolishing capital punishment

Wollstonecraft

• Women were not treated fairly by most philosophes.

• Wollstonecraft believed that women were entitled to an equal education.

• Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women

How did Enlightenment Ideas Spread?

Diderot

• Published the Encyclopedia.

• Censorship used to prevent the spread of ideas.

• Enlightened despots, absolute rulers, were those willing to consider some reforms

Salons & Salonieres

• Originated in 1600s• Noblewomen began

inviting enlightenment philosophes in all fields to their homes

• By the 1700s middle class women began holding salons.

• Another way in which ideas were disseminated

Catherine the Great

• Experimented with Enlightenment ideas

• Communicated with Voltaire & Diderot.

• Gave some rights to nobles

• However she allied herself with nobles who opposed change.

• Suppressed serf revolt

Frederick the Great

• King of Prussia• Religious tolerance• Hired Voltaire to set up

Prussian Academy• Instituted reforms to

help commoners• However reforms were

largely to make Prussian gov more efficient

Joseph II• Dedicated reformer• Disguised himself so he

could learn about their problems and improve them.

• Hired qualified civil servants rather than nobles

• Religious toleration• Ended censorship• Sold some church property

to build hospitals

Music, Literature and Architectural Changes during the Enlightenment

Baroque

Neoclassical

Baroque Music

• Johann Sebastian Bach• George Friedrich Handel• Dramatic Organ &

choral music

I’ll be Bach!

Classical Music - Enlightenment• Composers– Joseph Haydn– Wolfgang Amadeus

Mozart– Ludwig van Beethoven

– Lighter, more elegant music

Literature

• Novels which had plots, suspense & character development.

• Entertaining stories enjoyed by middle classes.

• Written in language that was understood

Mercantilism vs. Laissez-Faire

• Government regulated

• Restricted trade– Tariffs– Navigation Acts

• Regulated by the market

• Liberal free trade

Mercantilism• Government regulated

economic policy based on the following beliefs:

• Wealth was measured by the amount of gold/silver in treasury which req’d that nations maintain favorable balance of trade.

• Colonies were desired because they (1) provided raw materials and (2) markets for finished products.

• Restrictive trade policies which was reflected in the Navigation Laws

Adam Smith• Leading physiocrat who

opposed mercantilism.• Wrote Wealth of

Nations which argued that natural forces of supply & demand should operate the economy.

• Strong supporter of laissez-faire.

• Encouraged individual initiative

Enlightenment Influences on the American Revolution

Impact of the Enlightenment on the Majority

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