Conditions in Europe

1. Conditions in Europe • 1) Catholic Church and Absolute Monarchs are strong • 2) Crusades -> Renaissance leads to trade and cultural diffusion and Humanism

2. The Scientific Revolution (1500 – 1800 Age of Reason) • A new way of thinking about the world develops based on observation and willingness to question assumptions • Questioned Greco-Roman ideas • Questioned Church teachings • Use of scientific method and human intellect.

3. Galileo • Supported Heliocentric Theory • Used a telescope that he made • Church did not like his ideas • Put on trial, threatened with death • Had to publicly deny his ideas

4. Copernicus • Heliocentric Theory • Sun is the center of the universe • Planets revolve around the Sun

5. Newton • Used math to prove the ideas of Copernicus and Galileo • Called the force gravity, or that all objects fall towards Earth • Said all of nature follows laws

6. Descartes • Believed in the power of human reason

7. Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method • The scientific method • Observation and experimentation • Testable hypothesis Sir Francis Bacon

8. Question Do you exist to provide for the government, or does the government exist to provide for you?

9. Definitions… What are natural/ unalienable rights? What are natural laws? What is a philosopher?

10. Scientific Revolution influences the Enlightenment • Use of reason • natural laws govern human behavior • Apply the scientific method to solving the problems of society • The Enlightenment rejected traditional ideas and supported a belief in human reason

11. What Was the Enlightenment? The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to a whole new world view. New theories about government, philosophy, economics and religion.

12. Enlightenment Principles • Religion, tradition, and superstition limited independent thought • Accept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason, not on faith • Scientific and academic thought should be secular A meeting of French Enlightenment thinkers

13. According to the 18th- century philosopher Immanuel Kant, the “motto” of the Enlightenment was “Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own intelligence!” (Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” 1784) Immanuel Kant

14. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) • People are cruel greedy and selfish • If not strictly controlled they would fight, rob and oppose each other • The state of nature is cruel • The Leviathan – publication

15. John Locke • More optimistic view of human nature • All people had natural or unalienable rights • The rights of life, liberty and property • Gov’t’s power should be limited • Should protect natural rights/ if not had a right to rebel • Two Treaties of Versailles • Influenced the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution

16. Voltaire (1694–1778) • Championed social, political, and religious tolerance • Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, toleration, use of reason • “ I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it” • His ideas found In the US Constitution except the abolition of slavery.

17. Baron de Montesquieu • Separation of Powers • Three branches of gov’t • Legislative, judicial, and executive branches • System of checks and balances/each branch will keep the other from getting too powerful • US Constitution • Separation of powers would prevent tyranny • “Power Should be a check to Power”

18. The U.S. Constitution • Separation of powers • Checks and balances • Bill of Rights Painting depicting the Constitutional Convention

19. Jean Jacques Rousseau • “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” • Civilization corrupted man’s natural goodness/ • ‘General will’ of the people creates a society/direct democracy • Wrote the “Social Contract” • Majority should work for the common good

20. Impact of the Enlightenment • People have confidence that human reason can solve social problems • A more secular outlook emerges as scientific thinking replaces superstition, fear and intolerance • The individual becomes more important as people use their own ability to reason and judge

21. Impact of the Enlightenment • Governments and the Church did not like the ideas of the Enlightenment and many books were burned and scholars tortured and killed • Influenced the American, French , and Latin American Revolutions. • Influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen • Political impacts such as the Separation of Powers and Enlightened Despots, or rulers who believed in Enlightenment ideals

22. “Enlightened Monarchs” • Most of Europe ruled by absolute monarchs • Receptive to Enlightenment ideas • Instituted new laws and practices Enlightened Monarchs • Frederick II, Prussia • Catherine the Great, Russia • Maria Theresa, Austria • Joseph II, Holy Roman Empire • Gustav III, Sweden • Napoleon I, France

23. Enlightened Despots • Some monarchs accepted Enlightenment ideas. They were known as Enlightened Despots. • Maria Theresa of Austria: improved the tax system/ Tax the clergy and the nobles/ made primary education available in her kingdom. • Joseph II: practiced religious toleration, ended censorship and abolished serfdom. • Catherine the Great: asked the nobles for advice, freed some of the peasants, built schools, and hospitals. Practiced religious toleration and promoted education for women.