Influence of Enlightenment Thinkers on Modern Governments

1. CHAPTER 18 LESSON 1 NOTES: THINKERS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT - 1700 – 1800

2. Because people know they are greedy & selfish by nature, they agree to a [an unwritten agreement] socialcontract with their government to keep the peace and create an orderly society. “An absolute monarchy is the best kind of rule.” Thinker’s name: ThomasHobbes: His thoughts were influenced by his first-hand knowledge of the EnglishCivilWar Nationality: English His most notable literary contribution: Leviathan (translates as “SeaMonster”)

3. People are reasonable and moral, and are born with natural rights of life, liberty, and property that can never be taken away. Government’s purpose is to protect these natural rights at all costs. If a government fails in this purpose, the people have the right to overthrow their government. “A limited government, accepted by all the people, is the best kind of rule.” Thinker’s name: JohnLocke: His thoughts were influenced by his first-hand knowledge of the GloriousRevolution Nationality: English His most notable literary contribution: TwoTreatisesofGovernment

4. Admired a limitedconstitutional monarchy; supported the belief that government must protect people’s liberties (freedoms) by limiting government’s power into 3 branches:

5. executive, legislative, and judicial so that each one can check and balance the other two. No one branch of government can have more power than the other two:

6. SEPARATIONOFPOWERS: • EXECUTIVE BRANCH • (EX: a president who • carries out the laws) • Proposes or vetoes laws • Negotiates foreign treaties • Commander-in-chief of the armed forces • Appoints federal judges, ambassadors • Can grant pardons to federal offenders

7. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: • (EX: Congress who • makes the laws) • Can override president’s veto • Approves treaties, presidential appointments • Can impeach and remove president, other high officials from office • Appropriates money, prints and coins money • Can declare war • Regulates foreign, interstate trade

8. JUDICIAL BRANCH: • (EX: SupremeCourtand other Federal Courts that interpret the laws) • Can declare executive decisions unconstitutional • Appointed forlife Thinker’s name: Montesquieu Nationality: French His most notable literary contribution: TheSpiritofthe Laws

9. Most famous of all the “lovers of wisdom” (philosophes) of his time, he exposed all the abuses of French society, especially the government and the Catholic Church; defended equality, justice, and supported freedom of speech, freedom of religion, education for all, and was an outspoken critic of slavery.

10. “I may not agree with a word you say, but I will fight to the death your right to say it.” [Considering the time period, do you believe he really would have died for someone else’s right to speak? Would you defend someone else’s right to speak freely?] Thinker’s name: Voltaire [Francois-Marie Arouet] Nationality: French

11. Openly hated all forms of political and economic oppression; advocated that the “generalwill” of the people is more important than individual interests. The best government is one that has been freely elected. “The majority rules.” Thinker’s name: Rousseau Nationality: French His most notable literary contribution: TheSocial Contract

12. Took on the enormous task of gathering articles from the day’s leading Enlightened thinkers / philosophes and combined them into a large collection of books, denouncing divineright rule, supporting individual liberty, freedom of speech and religious toleration, and arguing against slavery; ideas banned by the Catholic Church but the printingpress spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe and to the Americas quickly and inexpensively. Thinker’s name: Diderot Nationality: French Most notable literary contribution: 28-volume Encyclopedia Russia’sCatherine II contributed a library to Diderot(Dowry for daughter)

13. Enlightened economic theories: Physiocrats focused on economic reforms: Rejected mercantilism (trade based on a favorable balance of trade; urged a policy of laissezfaire (leave alone) by which there was little or no interference from the government in the economy; supported free trade with no tariffs (taxes) on trade; the marketplace is better off without government intervention; but believed the government had a duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public works; ideas are the basis for capitalism. Thinker’s name: AdamSmith Nationality: British Most notable literary contribution: TheWealthofNations

14. Enlighteneddespots: absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social reform for their subjects: *Russia’s Romanov empress, Catherine the Great* • Enlightened ideas: • tolerated all religions, including Judaism • patronized arts, literature, education • donated library to Diderot • attempted serfreform until peasants criticized her attempts • granted boyars a charter of rights • BUT continued to war with the Turks and to partition Poland(unenlightened)

15. *Prussia’s Hohenzollern king, Frederick the Great* • Enlightened ideas: • saw himself as the “first servant of the state” • granted religious freedom except to Jews • freedom of the press • reduced torture • improved health of peasants by distributing seeds and tools • BUT appointed only Protestants to government offices and • partitioned Poland (unenlightened)

16. *Austria’s Hapsburg king, Joseph II * • Enlightened ideas: • A Catholic who granted religious freedom to Jews and Protestants • ended censorship • sold church property to build hospitals • abolished serfdom • became known as the • “peasant emperor” • BUT sought to gain territory that would include Hungary (unenlightened)