The Enlightenment
Name:
A Time of New Ideas
The Enlightenment was a period of time when people developed new ideas about
human existence, including peoples’ basic rights and the level of control they should
have over their government and their futures. The Enlightenment began in Europe
around 1715. People in cities like Paris gathered in salons to discuss philosophy and
ways to improve the human experience. Many of their ideas were based in science and
reason, which is why this time was also called the Age of Reason.
Natural Rights
Locke
Enlightenment thinkers believed that human beings are born with fundamental, basic
rights. These natural rights included the right to life, liberty, property, and the
freedom to find happiness. In order for people to enjoy these natural rights, other
rights needed to be protected. Enlightenment thinkers believed people should have the
right to express themselves, to move around freely, and to petition the government.
The Social Contract
If there was no government at all, people would live in a state of nature with no rules
and complete freedom—but without any protection from each other. One Enlightenment
idea was the social contract: citizens give up some freedom they would have in a state
of nature (like the freedom to rob and kill people), and in exchange the government
protects citizens’ right to life, liberty, and property. To Enlightenment thinkers, the
relationship between a government and its citizens was like an agreement. Citizens agree
to obey a set of rules, and the government agrees to protect citizens’ rights.
Rousseau
Consent of the Governed
Republicanism
Enlightenment thinkers believed that governments had a responsibility to hold up
their end of the social contract. If a government failed, then citizens would no longer
agree to be governed and they would have the right to revolt. This idea is known as
consent of the governed. Traditionally, a government protected citizens from
foreign invaders, but the government also had absolute authority over the people. A
king ruled his citizens whether they consented or not. To Enlightenment thinkers, this
was unacceptable.
Since the Middle Ages, European leaders had gained power through heredity, or family
ties. Kings and queens took the throne after another family member died. The people had
no say in this process. Many Enlightenment thinkers believed in republicanism – the
idea that a country’s leader should be chosen by the citizens in a general election. Even
so, some Enlightenment thinkers frowned on the idea of a democracy. They feared what
would happen if a mob of uneducated people had the power to vote.
Influence on America
Montesquieu
The brightest Enlightenment thinkers, with names like Rousseau, Montesquieu, and
Locke, became very famous. They influenced leaders in Europe, and became popular
with Americans who wanted independence. When our Founding Fathers created a
government for the new United States, they embraced many Enlightenment ideas.
America’s Constitution recognized that citizens were born with basic rights. And even
though some of the Founders agreed with those concerned about democracy, the
Constitution gave citizens the power to vote. The Enlightenment ended around 1789,
about the same time the Constitution was born.
Influence Library
The Enlightenment p.1
The Enlightenment
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A. Put It In Perspective. Shade in the Enlightenment on the timeline. (Find the dates in the reading.)
B. Speech and the Social Contract. The U.S. Constitution says the government cannot limit freedom of
speech. Is freedom of speech necessary in order to enjoy our natural rights? Pick ONE natural right and
explain why it can’t be fully enjoyed without freedom of speech.
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C. Crossword! Use the clues and the reading to complete
the crossword puzzle.
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2
3
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Across
2. If the government fails to protect citizens,
citizens have the right to revolt.
4. An agreement where citizens give up some
rights in exchange for government protection
6. Famous city where people discussed ideas
7. Continent where the Enlightenment began
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8. American document that recognized natural
rights
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9. A place where city people gathered to discuss
philosophy
10. Fundamental, basic rights people are born
with
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11. The kind of authority a king had over citizens
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12. Some Enlightenment thinkers were afraid of
this
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Down
1. Obtaining something through family ties
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3. A period of time when people developed new
ideas about human existence and human
rights.
10
4. Life with complete freedom, no rules, and no
government
11
5. The idea that a country’s leader should be
chosen by the citizens in a general election
12
Influence Library
The Enlightenment p.2
The Enlightenment
**TEACHER GUIDE**
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A. Put It In Perspective. Shade in the Enlightenment on the timeline. (Find the dates in the reading.)
B. Speech and the Social Contract. The U.S. Constitution says the government cannot limit freedom of
speech. Is freedom of speech necessary in order to enjoy our natural rights? Pick ONE natural right and
explain why it can’t be fully enjoyed without freedom of speech.


2. If the government fails to protect citizens,
citizens have the right to revolt.
4. An agreement where citizens give up some
rights in exchange for government protection
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Influence Library
3. A period of time when people developed new
ideas about human existence and human
rights.
4. Life with complete freedom, no rules, and no
government
5. The idea that a country’s leader should be
chosen by the citizens in a general election
The Enlightenment p.2
In the 1700’s a movement developed in Europe called the Enlightenment.
The main idea of the Enlightenment was the importance of learning and
reasoning. Enlightenment thinkers believed education would solve society’s
problems.
These thinkers focused on the relationship between government and the
people being governed. Their ideas included separation of powers, natural
law, and the social contract.
Separation of powers means that power in government is divided into
three branches. Each branch has its own unique responsibilities. This was a
new idea in Europe because most governments had one person with all the
power, like a king or queen. The idea of checks and balances allows each
branch to limit the powers of the other branches.
Natural law is the Enlightenment idea that all human beings are born with
and entitled to certain rights such as life and freedom. Natural law is
universal, which means that these rights are guaranteed to everyone simply
because they are born. Locke and Montesquieu believed that government
laws and actions must respect natural rights and reflect natural law.
Finally, Locke and Montesquieu believed in the idea of a social contract. A
social contract is created when an organized society agrees on the
relationship between the government and the people, and on the rights
and duties or the people and on the limits and responsibilities of the
government.
The Founding Fathers read the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers. They read
John Locke’s work about natural law and the social contract, and Baron de
Montesquieu’s work about separation of powers.
Locke believed that the purpose of government is to protect individual
liberties and the natural rights of life, liberty and property. The Founding
Fathers included these ideas when they wrote the Declaration of
Independence. The Declaration of Independence stated that the colonists
wanted to be a free country, independent from England.
Montesquieu saw the dangers of a government ruled by one person with all
the power. Montesquieu wrote that power in government should be
divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch would
have its own roles and responsibilities. This concept is called separation of
powers.
James Madison and the other Founders used the ideas of natural law, social
contract, and separation of powers to create the system of government in
the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution continues to be the framework for
the United States government today.
Enlightenment Founding Fathers natural law natural rights
social contract separation of powers checks and balances