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Enlightenment
Objective: What were some major ideas to come out of the Enlightenment?
How did the thinkers of the Enlightenment change or impact society?
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Warm-Up:
Read the following document and answer the comprehension questions below.
Guided Notes
Another result of the Scientific Revolution was the _____________________________________. The
Enlightenment changed the way people lived as political and social scholars began to question the workings of
society and government, while _______________________________. While the Scientific Revolution focused
on the physical world, the Enlightenment attempted to __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________. The most influential Enlightenment thinkers were _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
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Descartes: Rene Descartes was a __________________ intellectual who challenged traditional ideas. He said
that ______________________________was capable of discovering and explaining the laws of nature and
man. The idea of human reason being superior to tradition led to the beginning of the Enlightenment, a
time of political awakening that became revolution.
Hobbes: Thomas Hobbes based his theories on government on his belief that man was basically
_________________________________________________________. In his book, ____________________,
Hobbes states that life would be a state of ______________________________ without a
________________________________________ to control man's natural impulses. He believed people would
enter into a _______________________________ to escape from this. In the Social Contract, people would
exchange ________________________________________________________________________________. Once people entered into this contract, there was no release. Hobbes did not believe in revolutions, and
supported the idea of ______________________________________.
Locke: John Locke also based his theories on his ________________________________________________. However, Locke believed that people could be reasonable and moral. In his book, _______________________
________________________________________, Locke explained that _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________,
and that the purpose of government was to ____________________________________________________. Furthermore, Locke states that if government does not protect these rights, and becomes bad for the people,
then ____________________________________________________________. Locke supported a ________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Montesquieu: Baron de Montesquieu was an Enlightenment thinker from France who wrote a book called,
____________________________________________________ in 1748. In his book, Montesquieu describes
what he considers to be the best government. He states that government should divide itself according to its
powers, creating a _______________________________________________________________. Montesquieu
explained that under this system each branch would ______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________. The ideas of Separation of Powers
and Checks and Balances can be seen in the government of the United States.
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Voltaire: was a French intellectual who wrote and lectured about ____________________________________. Voltaire is best known for saying, "I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your
right to say it." He believed that ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________. He also spoke out against the corruption of
the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.
Rousseau: Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote a book called, _____________________________________, where
he stated that people were ____________________________, and that society, and its __________________
__________________________________________________. Rousseau believed that government should be
run according to the will of the majority, which he called the _________________________________. He
claimed that the General Will would always ___________________________________________________.
Enlightenment ideas helped to stimulate people's sense of individualism, and the basic belief in equal
rights. This in turn led to the ____________________________________ is Britain, the American
Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Latin American Revolutions. Some of these revolutions
resulted in government based upon the ideas of the Enlightenment such as, Great Britain and the United States.
Elsewhere, a few monarchs retained absolute control of their countries while also enacting reform based on
Enlightenment ideas. These monarchs are called _____________________________________. In Austria,
Maria Teresa and her son Joseph II both introduced reforms based on Enlightenment ideas. They reduced
the tax load on the peasants, provided free education, and ended censorship in their empire. In Russia,
______________________________________________ introduced similar reforms. She enacted laws for
religious toleration and free education, and also sought the advice of nobles and peasants in the running
of government. However, these reforms seldom outlived the monarchs who had enacted them.
Vocabulary Reference Sheet
revolution :
a dramatic change in ideas, practice, or government.
Leviathan :
A book written by Thomas Hobbes describing his theory that an absolute government was the only means of
balancing human interests and desires with their rights of life and property.
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social contract :
Theory of Thomas Hobbes that states the people form a social contract with government where they give up all
rights for protection from other citizens.
absolute monarchy :
A political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch, who has absolute control.
Two Treatises of Government :
Also known as The Three Baskets of Wisdom, a book written by John Locke describing his views on government
which explained that all men have Natural Rights, which are Life, Liberty, and Property, and that the purpose of
government was to protect these rights. This book is the basis for many modern democracies.
natural rights :
Concept of John Locke’s that states all people have the right to life, liberty, and property.
Spirit of the Laws, The :
A book written by Baron de Montesquieu describing his theories on government. He states that government
should divide itself according to its powers, creating a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. Montesquieu
explained that under this system each branch would Check and Balance the others, which would help protect
the people's liberty.
individualism :
A social philosophy which stresses the importance of the individual above society.
Social Contract, The :
French philosopher Jean Jaques Rousseau's book in which he wrote that people were basically good, and that
society, and its unequal distribution of wealth, were the cause of most problems. Rousseau believed that
government should be run according to the will of the majority, which he called the General Will. He claimed
that the General Will would always act in the best interest of the people.
general will :
Name Enlightenment thinker Jean Jacques Rousseau uses to describe majority rule.
Glorious Revolution :
Political revolution in Great Britain in 1688 that put William and Mary on the throne, while limiting the power
of the monarchy and making Parliament supreme. This event marks the beginning of a constitutional monarchy
in England.
enlightened despots :
A monarch who retains absolute control of their country while also enacting reform based on Enlightenment
ideas.
censorship :
The suppression information considered offensive or a threat to security.
Catherine the Great :
An enlightened despot who ruled over Russia. She is responsible for many positive changes in Russia, as well as
securing the country a warm water port.
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1.
Speaker A: Good government stresses the importance of the nation and accepts the rights of the individual
only if the interests of the individual are the same as those of the nation.
Speaker B: The person of the king is sacred and to attack him in any way is to attack religion itself. The
respect given to a king is religious in nature.
Speaker C: All human beings are born free and equal with a right to life and liberty. It is the duty of
government to protect these natural rights of its citizens.
Speaker D: Our goal will not be achieved by democracy or liberal reforms, but by blood and iron. Only then
will we be successful. No nation achieves greatness or unity without the traumatic experiences of war.
Which speaker’s statement best reflects the ideas of the Enlightenment?
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
2.
“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, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The ideas expressed in the quotation are based primarily on the writings of
1. Niccolo Machiavelli
2. Charles Darwin
3. Charlemagne
4. John Locke
3. Writers of the Enlightenment were primarily interested in
1. changing the relationship between people and their government
2. supporting the divine right theory
3. debating the role of the church in society
4. promoting increased power for European monarchs
4. The writings of the Enlightenment philosophers in Europe encouraged later political revolution with their
support of
1. socialism
2. imperialism
3. the natural rights of man
4. the divine right monarchies
5. The writers and philosophers of the Enlightenment believed the government decisions should be based on
1. fundamental religious beliefs
2. the concept of divine right of kings
3. laws of nature and reason
4. traditional values
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6. John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau would be most likely to support
1. a return to feudalism in Europe
2. a government ruled by a divine right monarchy
3. a society ruled by the Catholic Church
4. a society in which the people chose the ruler
7.
--Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.
--Everyone has the natural right to life, liberty, and property.
--Slavery, torture, and religious persecution are wrong.
During which period in European history would the ideas in these statements have been expressed?
1. Pax Romana
2. Age of Exploration
3. Enlightenment
4. Age of Imperialism
8. Which statement best describes a change that occurred during both the Renaissance and the
Enlightenment?
1. feudalism became the dominant political system
2. the use of reason and logic were discouraged
3. technology and science were considered unimportant
4. a new questioning spirit and attitude emerged
9. A major concept promoted by philosophers of the Enlightenment was the need for
1. a return to traditional medieval ideas
2. the use of reason for rational and logical thinking
3. overseas expansion by western European nations
4. strengthening the power of the organized religions
Causes of Enlightenment
Effects of Enlightenment
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