Social Studies 9-French Revolution-Enlightment Thinkers

What was the enlightment?

• Period of European intellectual and cultural movement (people began thinking for themselves)

• Focusing on Human Rights, Society, Government, Freedom and Equality

• There were philosophes - educated people with theories on society and government

• They often met to discuss ideas in salons

• Salons were meeting of intellectuals to discuss new ideas

• Salonnieres-women who often hosted these gatherings in private homes

What were some key ideas on the Enlightment that they were trying to spread?

• Emphasis on science, reason, logic (evidence)

• Challenged the ancient regime (old rule) and french way of life-pre revolution

What were the 5 core beliefs the enlightment thinkers were trying to spread?

• Reason-truth can be discovered through logical thinking

• Nature-What is natural is good and reasonable

• Happiness-Rejected the medieval notion-people finding joy in the herafter (people should find joy on earth, not only in heaven)

• Progress-Society and humankind can improve

• Liberty-Called for liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights (People in England had rights)

What were Thomas Hobbes’ beliefs?

Human Nature:

• Believed humans are naturally selfish, violent and driven by fear

• Thought people cause chaos without a strong authority

Government:

• Supported a powerful ruler (absolute monarchy) to keep order

• People form governments because they fear violence and want safety

• Governments should have total control to prevent disorder

Religion:

• critical of religion: seen as atheist or non religious

What were John Locke’s beliefs?

Human Nature:

• Believed people are reasonable, cooperative and born with potential,

• Everyone has natural rights: life, liberty and property

Government:

• Government exists to protect people’s natural rights

• If the government fails, citizens have the right to overthrow it

• Supported democracy and representative government

Religion:

• Religious tolerance

• Religion is a personal choice

What were voltaire’s beliefs?

Human Nature:

• Believed people should think for themselves

• Fought against ignorance and unfairness

Government:

• Strongly criticized absolute monarchy and corruption

• Wanted freedom of expression and a fair tolerant society

Religion:

• Defended freedom of religion

• Fought superstition and religious intolerance

• Criticized the Catholic Church for abusing power

• (Used satire to criticize the King)

What were Montesquieu’s beliefs?

Human Nature:

• Thought people can abuse power if they have too much of it

Government:

• Wanted separation of powers

• Executive (enforce laws)

• Legislative (make laws)

• Judicial (interpret laws)

Religion:

• Religion should not control the government

• Religion tolerance

What were Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s beliefs about human nature?

Human nature:

• Believed humans are naturally good but society corrupts them

Government:

• Supported direct democracy

• Government should follow the general will (what is best for most people)

• Believed titles of nobility should be abolished

Religion:

• Should teach good morals

• “civil religion”

• Church should not control government

What were Beccaria’s beliefs on crime and justice?

Crime and Justice:

• Laws should maintain order, not punish cruelly

• Opposed: torture, unfair trials, arbitrary punishments, death penalty.

Government:

• Punishments should fit the crime and be reasonable

• Supported speedy trials and equal treatment under the law

What were Mary Wollstonecraft’s beliefs about society (women)?

• Women deserve the same education as men

• Women should be able to enter careers like medicine and politics

• Women should have power over themselves, not be controlled by men

What were the three long term effects Enlightment thinkers produced?

• Belief in progress

• More secular outlook

• Importance of the Individual

Explain Belief in progress.

• Scientists proved the world could be understood through science

• This made people believe society could improve too

• Led to movements that pushed for: ending slavery, more social equality, democratic government

Describe A more secular outlook.

• People questioning the Church’s teachings

• Science explained mysteries without relying on religion

• Voltaire and others attacked superstition and supported: religious tolerance, freedom of belief

Explain Importance of the Individual.

• People trusted reason over church or king

• Individuals judged what was right/wrong themselves

• Encouraged democracy and human rights

What were salons?

• Social gatherings hosted by wealthy Parisian women

• Philosophers, writers, scientists, and artists met to share ideas

• Helped Enlightenment ideas spread across Europe

What was Diderot’s encylopedia?

• By Denis Diderot

• Collected Enlightenment ideas in one huge book set

• Government and Church hated it: criticized royal power, encouraged revolt, promoted new ideas

• Was thrown in jail: wrote an essay rejecting God

• Who were contributors to the Encyclopedia?

• Rousseau: wrote music section, added entry on political economy

• D’Alembert: co-creator, wrote introduction

• Diderot: Creator, Biased toward Enlightenment beliefs, criticized kings-strong government needs less inequality

What were reactions to the Encyclopedia?

• King Louis XV: Banned the encyclopedia after volume 1, but quietly kept a personal copy

• Pope Clement XIII: ordered it to be burned, called it dangerous and immoral, wanted diderot imprisoned

Art during the Enlightenment period.

• Neoclassical Art: Inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, Simple, elegant lines

Music during the enlightenment period.

• Before: dominated by dramatic organ and choral music

• During: Switched to classical music-lighter, more elegant, balanced

Literature during the enlightenment.

• Changes in writing: Novels became popular-long stories focusing on: characters’ thoughts, emotions, realistic events, suspense

• Popular with Middle Class