The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

Spread democratic ideasthat led to revolutions

Spread democratic ideasthat led to revolutions

The Enlightenment

During the 1600s and 1700s, belief in the power of reason grew. Writers of the time sought to reform government and bring about a more just society.

Despite opposition from government and Church leaders, Enlightenment ideas spread, and helped to form the concepts of democracy and nationhood.

Overview

The EnlightenmentEnlightenment – The period in the 1700s in which people rejected traditional ideas and supported a belief in human reason.

Thinkers:• Thomas Hobbes• John Locke• Montesquieu• Voltaire•Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Natural Laws – According to some philosophers, rules that govern human nature.

John LockeJohn LockeAll people are born with

NATURAL RIGHTSLifeLibertyProperty

The government is supposed to protect those rights

If it doesn’t, the people should OVERTHROW it.

All people are born with NATURAL RIGHTSLifeLibertyProperty

The government is supposed to protect those rights

If it doesn’t, the people should OVERTHROW it.

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu

Power separated into 3 branches

SEPARATION OF POWERS to stop rulers from getting absolute power

Power separated into 3 branches

SEPARATION OF POWERS to stop rulers from getting absolute power

Also said…Also said…

Need a system of checks and balances to ensure that 1 branch can not dominate the other 2!

Need a system of checks and balances to ensure that 1 branch can not dominate the other 2!

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau1. People are born free.2. But if everyone is free, there is chaos.3. So we agree to join together so that

we can keep each other safe.

4. We agree to a SOCIAL CONTRACT

5. We give the government the power to make us follow laws…

6. …and those laws keep us all safe AND protect our rights.

1. People are born free.2. But if everyone is free, there is chaos.3. So we agree to join together so that

we can keep each other safe.

4. We agree to a SOCIAL CONTRACT

5. We give the government the power to make us follow laws…

6. …and those laws keep us all safe AND protect our rights.

VoltaireVoltaire

Believed in FREE SPEECH

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Believed in FREE SPEECH

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

[T]hat, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

[T]hat whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it…

We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…

Natural Rights

Natural Rights

Right tooverthrow The gov’t

Right tooverthrow The gov’t

Social Contract

Social Contract