WH Unit 13: Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution

Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution

Which Enlightenment philosopher envisioned the separation of powers concept in government?

Montesquieu

Which Enlightenment philosopher argued for the idea of a social contract?

Rousseau

From what did the Enlightenment philosophers believe the power of government is derived?

The consent of the governed

What is the time period called that applied reason and democratic thought to social institutions throughout the world?

Enlightenment

Which philosopher's ideas did Thomas Jefferson use in writing the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke

Common Good

The government does what is best for the most people; people surrender some of their rights so that the government can maintain order and protect the citizens; supported by Rousseau

According to John Locke, what was the most important role of the government?

Protect the RIGHTS of the people

According to John Locke, what should people do if the government does not protect rights?

Overthrow the government

Prior to (before) the Enlightenment, what kind of political structure existed in most European governments?

Absolute Monarchy

On what did Voltaire focus?

civil liberties, including freedom of speech and religion

Enlightenment

The 18th Century philosophical movement stressing the importance of reason and applying reason to social institutions, including government, to justify change

Separation of Powers

Distributing the legislative, executive and judicial powers to several bodies rather than allowing the concentration of these powers into one body or person; prevents abuse of power; supported by Montesquieu

Social Contract

The idea that government was created as an agreement (contract) between social groups as a way of structuring themselves in a way that was good for the people and the government; supported by many philosophers, but was a book written by Roussea

Natural Rights

Rights that everyone is born with, including life, liberty and property; idea supported by John Locke

Consent of the Governed

Like popular sovereignty, the governed exists with the agreement of the governed; Citizens agree to participate in the form of government and government receives its power from the people

Civil Liberties

Individual rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion; supported by Voltaire

What events were inspired by the Enlightenment

The American and French Revolutions

What inspired the Enlightenment?

. Combined new ideas of the Renaissance (rebirth of interest in learning from 1300 to 1500) and the Scientific Revolution (period from 1550 to 1700 during which a number of important advances in science were made; applied reason to establish cause and effect)

Check and Balances

a system that allows each branch of government to amend (change) or veto (forbid) acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch or person from having too much control or power (Montesquieu)

During the Scientific Revolution, what did scientists do?

Believed something only if it could be tested or proven; ran experiments to test accepted knowledge; conducted systematic experimentation to reveal the laws of nature

Nicolaus Copernicus

A Polish astronomer who proved that the Ptolemaic system was inaccurate, he proposed the theory that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system. Developed Heliocentric Theory.

Heliocentric

Based on the belief that the sun is the center of the universe

Johannes Kepler

German astronomer who first stated laws of planetary motion

Galileo Galilei

The father of scientific method. Made key advances in astronomy such as planetary surfaces.

Sir Isaac Newton

British scientist that developed the laws of motion and gravity.

Salons

Informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophes, and others exchanged ideas during Enlightenment

Encyclopedia, Diderot

• An encyclopedia of general knowledge used to spread the Philosophe's ideas on government, economics, religion, philosophy, and many others; included works from many contributors.

• Spread enlightenment ideas throughout Europe.

Baroque Art

grand, ornate style of art

Neoclassical Art

A simple and elegant style of art that borrowed themes from ancient Greece and Rome.

prose fiction

imaginary story written in ordinary language, without rhyme or meter