The Enlightenment – Regents Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, thinkers, and impacts of the Enlightenment.

Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

An intellectual movement in the 17th–18th centuries that emphasized reason, logic, and individual rights and challenged absolute monarchy, traditional authority, and the Church.

Natural rights

Life, liberty, and property; John Locke's idea that inspired revolutions (American, French).

Separation of powers

Montesquieu's concept of dividing government into branches with checks and balances; influenced constitutions and the U.S. government.

Freedom of speech and religion

Voltaire's advocacy for civil liberties and freedom of expression; criticism of the Church.

Social contract

Rousseau's theory that government derives authority from the consent of the governed; groundwork for democratic ideas.

Women’s rights / equality in education

Mary Wollstonecraft's advocacy for women's rights and equal education; early feminist ideas.

Free-market economics / laissez-faire

Adam Smith's idea of limited government intervention and the foundation of capitalism.

Effects: revolutions inspired

Enlightenment ideas encouraged revolutions—American, French, and Latin American independence.

Effects: modern democratic ideas and constitutions

Enlightenment thinking contributed to the development of modern democratic ideas and constitutions.