17.2-3 THE ENLIGHTENMENT & ABSOLUTISM

Big Idea: The Enlightenment changed the ideas of government

PATH & SPREAD OF ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS

    Enlightenment: 18 th movement cen. philosophical Philosophe (philosopher)  Meet in Salons  Focused on reason: scientific method to understand& better life Middle class literacy rises Diderot –wrote the Encyclopedia

POLITICAL THOUGHT

 Thomas Hobbes (English) page 476:  before society people were nasty, brutish & focused on survival  Solution -Social contact  Establish absolute ruler  preserve order  Jean Jacques Rousseau (French Philosopher)  Government  social contract- society agrees to be governed by general will (what society feels is best.)  those who don’t are forced to

JOHN LOCKE: (ENGLISH) PAGES 477 & 546



Against absolute rule



Natural rights (life, liberty, property)



Gov’s. purpose -protect natural rights-if not people can rebel



Everyone born with tabula rasa(blank mind)



molded/influenced by environment

MONTESQUIEU (FRENCH NOBLE)

 Wrote Spirit of Laws  Identified 3 branches of Gov & sep. of powers (checks & balances) –(Ex: England)   Executive (king),  legislative (parliament),  the judicial (courts) influence U.S. Constitution.

ADAM SMITH (SCOTTISH PHILOSOPHER)   individuals pursue economic self interest No gov involvement (Laissez Faire)  3 roles of gov 1.

2.

3.

Protection Defend from injustice Maintain public works

ENLIGHTENMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE

 Cesare Beccaria -Punishment shouldn’t match the crime – against capital punishment.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS  Mary Wollstonecraft  All humans have reason (including women) & entitled to equal rights

ENLIGHTENMENT RELIGIOUS CHANGES

   Attacks Catholic Church Voltaire (French philosopher)  Criticized Catholic Church  Newton’s world machine concept –  added deism  mechanic (God) created universe (clock) –runs without his interference New religious movement-Methodism  John Wesley.

 Gave purpose to lower & middle classes  Praised hard work & religious happiness

ENLIGHTENED LEADERS & THEIR REFORMS    Prussia -Frederick II / Frederick the Great,  abolished torture except in treason & murder.

 limited freedom of speech & press.

Russia – Catherine the Great  Considered equality of all before law. Austria- Joseph II  reforms-many failed  Abolished serfdom-angered nobles  Eliminated death penalty.  Equality before law  Religious toleration

SECTION 2 REVIEW

 Philosphers, writers, economists, social reformers  Philosophes  To let (people) do (what they want)  Laissez-faire  Rousseau argued that society should be governed by what?

 Social contract

SECTION 2 REVIEW

 In

The Wealth of Nations

, ________ gave roles to the government. These roles included protection(army),public works (roads and canals), and defense(the police).

 Adam Smith  Who believed in: balance of heart and mind, rule of the general will, and education fostering natural instincts?

 Rousseau

SECTION 2 REVIEW

 Diderot’s Encyclopedia was used to attack what?

 Religious superstition  A system of political limits and controls  Separation of powers  Idea that God lets the universe run by its own laws  deism

SECTION 2 REVIEW

 Allows for society to be governed by its general will.

 Social contract  Montesquieu’s ideas were used in what?

 U.S. Constitution