Enlightenment Thinkers

The main Enlightenment Thinkers our AP World teacher is having us study.

Hobbes

Hobbes

Believed that religion should be separate from politics, all people were greedy and they needed a strong king with absolute power to rule.
Men and women were equal, but post-rise of Centralization men were given the right to rule

Locke

Believed that all people were born good and given natural rights to life, liberty and property. The role of government was to protect those rights.
The government’s power should be limited by the governed. The people were able to overthrow if the government was acting irrationally.

Voltaire

Believed that religion was too powerful. Against any religion that was too strict and didn’t approve of intolerant religions.

Montesqieu

Believed in rejecting monarchies and created the baseline for the separation of powers— one branch would make laws, one branch would interpret the laws, and the third would enforce the laws.

Rousseau

Believed that whatever the majority of the people wanted should become law. Against absolute power of the church or government.
Education should be changed + children should be able to express themselves so they can become independent.

Jefferson

Believed that the majority of citizens would make right choices when given the chance. Also believed that the government should support a citizen’s rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Advocated for individual freedoms.

Wollstonecraft

Believed in women’s rights, jobs and educations, and strongly supported the idea that women should be treated as equal to men.

Smith

Believed in a free market with little to no government interference. Also advocated for individuals to own their own businesses.