The Enlightenment Unit

Geocentric

Earth-centered; Earth is at the center of the universe

Heliocentric

Sun-centered; The Sun is at the center of the universe

Universal Law of Gravitation

Laws set by Isaac Newton that explains gravity

Rationalism

Belief by Rene Descartes that reason is the chief source of knowledge

Scientific Method

Procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence that was crucial to the evolution of science.

Inductive Reasoning

Says that scientists should proceed from the particular to the general by making systematic observations.

Philosopher

Person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment

Philosophe

Title applied to all intellectuals

Separation of Powers

Gov't where you have executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Deism

18th century religious philosophy based on reason and natural law.

Laissez-faire

Concept that the state should not impose gov't regulations but should leave alone (free trade)

Social Contract

Proposed by Rousseau where the entire society agrees to be governed by its general will.

Salon

Where people met to discuss the ideas of the philosophies helping to spread Enlightenment ideas.

Enlightened Absolutism

A system in which rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaing their full royal powers.

Rococo

Artistic style that replaced baroque in the 1730s

Federal System

Power is shared between the national and state gov'ts

Amendment

A change to the constitution

John Locke

This person believed people were molded by their experiences.

Isaac Newton

This person discovered the law of gravity

George Washington

This person was the commander of the Continental Army

Voltaire

This person was well known for his criticism of Christianity and his strong belief in religious toleration

Francis Bacon

Believed scientists should use inductive reasoning

Laissez-Faire

"Hands Off" the gov't shouldn't regulate the economy

Montesquieu

This person believed in gov't checks and balances (3 branches of gov't

Nicholas Copernicus

This person was the first to argue that the sun was the center of the universe (heliocentric)

Galileo

First European to study the stars with a telescope

Rousseau

This person proposed a social contract

Treaty of Paris

Granted Americans the western territory from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River

Articles of Confederation

America's first constitution.

London

City where the first daily newspaper was printed in 1702

William Pitt the Elder

This British head of cabinet acquired Canada and India

Giovanni Battista

This person's work shows the use of enchantment in the rococo style

Constitutional Convention

This was a meeting to delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation

France

The first country to grant diplomatic recognition to the new American state

Clock

To Voltaire and many other philosophies the universe was like a

Legislative

This branch is in charge of making laws

Executive

This branch is in charge of enforcing laws

Judicial

This branch is in charge of interpreting laws