AMSCO 5.1&5.2

The Enlightenment

Introduction to the Enlightenment

• Time Period: 17th and 18th centuries

• Key Idea: Emphasis on reason over tradition and individualism over community values.

• Influential Thinkers: René Descartes, among others.

• Impact: Challenged the roles of monarchs and church leaders, leading to revolutions in the United States, France, and globally.

Key Concepts and Ideals

• Optimism and Progress:

  • Stemming from the Scientific Revolution and Renaissance humanism.

  • Belief in applying reason to natural laws for societal progress.

  • Natural laws governed social and political spheres, leading to less influence of traditional religion.

• Emergence of New Ideas:

  • The period known as "the Age of Isms" included socialism, liberalism, and conservatism.

  • Nationalism developed as a response to the desire for independent nation-states based on cultural ties.

New Ideas and Their Roots

Empiricism and Political Philosophies

• Francis Bacon (17th Century): Emphasized empirical methods of scientific inquiry, proposing knowledge comes through observed experiences.

• Thomas Hobbes and John Locke:

  • Hobbes: Believed in a strong central government for order (social contract).

  • Locke: Advocated for natural rights and responsibility to revolt against unjust governance; introduced the concept of "tabula rasa" (blank slate).

Key Thinkers of the Enlightenment

• Philosophes:

  • A group of 18th-century thinkers promoting rational thought.

  • Notables include Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Adam Smith (advocated for free trade), Montesquieu (separation of powers), Voltaire (civil liberties), and Rousseau (General Will).

Economic Ideas: Adam Smith and Capitalism

• Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations, 1776):

  • Criticized mercantilism, advocating laissez-faire economics.

  • Introduced the idea of the "invisible hand" guiding market decisions.

Religious Ideas: Deism

• Deism:

  • Belief in a non-interfering divinity that established natural laws.

  • Thinkers like Thomas Paine supported Deism and critiqued traditional religions.

Enlightenment's Impact on Society

Social Reform Movements

• Poverty and the Working Class:

  • Urbanization led to increased poverty and poor living conditions, prompting calls for reform from various sectors.

• Utopian Socialism:

  • Ideas from men like Henri de Saint-Simon advocating for societal improvement through ideal communities.

Women's Rights and Feminism

• Olympe de Gouges:

  • Published "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the (Female) Citizen" in 1791, advocating for women's rights.

• Mary Wollstonecraft:

  • Wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" arguing for equal education and rights.

Abolitionism and Serfdom

• Abolitionism:

  • Movement to end slavery, which gained momentum in the late 18th century, leading to gradual abolition in many nations.

• Decline of Serfdom:

  • Transition from agrarian to industrial economy caused decline of serfdom, with notable reforms from leaders like Alexander II in Russia.

Nationalism: Rise and Its Effects

• Zionism:

  • The 19th-century movement for an independent Jewish homeland, gaining momentum through events like the Dreyfus Affair.

Nationalism and Revolutions

Causes and Effects of Revolutions

• Enlightenment Ideas and Nationalism:

  • Key influences on revolutions from 1750-1900, resulting in new government forms and significant changes across nations.

American Revolution

• Inspiration and Ideals:

  • Rooted in Enlightenment philosophy, notably the Declaration of Independence echoing Locke’s principles of rights.

French Revolution

• Revolutionary Ideas:

  • Influenced by Enlightenment philosophy and economic distress leading to people's demands for liberty and equality.

• Declaration of the Rights of Man:

  • A foundational document establishing basic human rights during the revolution.

Haitian and Latin American Revolutions

• Haitian Revolution led by Toussaint L’Ouverture against slavery and colonial rule, ultimately leading to Haiti’s independence.

• Bolivar’s Revolutions:

  • Creole-led movements in South America against Spanish rule, inspired by Enlightenment ideals and a drive for independence.

Nationalism in Europe: Unification Movements

• Italian and German Unification: Led by figures such as Count di Cavour and Otto von Bismarck, utilizing realpolitik and wars to unify fragmented regions into nation-states.

Ottoman Nationalism and Future of Nationalism

Ottomanism

• A movement by the Ottoman state intending national unity but faced resistance from various ethnic groups within the empire.

Contemporary Nationalism

• Signs of decline in nationalism in favor of larger political entities and cooperation among nations.