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History 11

History 11 . The Enlightenment for Geniuses . Enlightenment. Revolutions Begin With Ideas. What conditions must exist in a country for a revolution to occur? Critical Mass of unhappy people Some people must be educated and secure enough to realise that: Things are not good

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History 11

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  1. History 11 The Enlightenment for Geniuses

  2. Enlightenment

  3. Revolutions Begin With Ideas What conditions must exist in a country for a revolution to occur? • Critical Mass of unhappy people • Some people must be educated and secure enough to realise that: • Things are not good • Things could be better • They have the power to change things • There must be people willing to lead and others willing to follow.

  4. The Enlightenment • A Revolution of Ideas • 1660-1789 • Phenomenon of the educated

  5. Enlightenment Themes • Reason • Scientific method • Progress • Scepticism • Rene Descartes (1596-1650) • David Hume (1711-1776)

  6. Scientific Method

  7. Main Ideas • Earth not the centre of the Universe • Divine Right of Kings was foolish • Scientific Revolution (gravity, etc.) • Industrial Revolution (Farm equipment…) • People began to question the existence of God

  8. Main Ideas… • The Universe was understandable and governed by natural forces – not the supernatural • The Scientific Method could be used to answer all questions in all areas of life • Human beings can be educated so that they never stop learning. There is no limit to how much knowledge a person could have.

  9. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 • England • Executed King Charles I • Secured Parliamentary government, rights & freedoms

  10. Some Terms…. • Philosophy – the study of ideas • “liberal” – role of government is to protect the rights of the individual, wants to change things • “conservative” – wants to keep things as they are, job of government to maintain the status quo

  11. John Locke (1632-1704) Two Treatises on Government

  12. John Locke: “Father of liberalism” • Championed the rights of the individual and condemned religious intolerance • Most famous for developing the idea of the Social Contract • Crown had a duty to defend the rights of ALL of their subjects equally • In return for protection and rights, subjects would agree to be ruled by the Crown and government • If the Crown broke the contract, the people had the right to revolt and get a new leader

  13. Charles-Louis de Secondat (Montesquieu) (1689-1755) Spirit of the Laws (1748)

  14. Baron de Montesquieu –1689-1755 • Claimed there was no ideal form of government • Government should be adapted based on the population and social maturity • Believed that England was the freest country because they divided power between the Crown, Parliament & Courts • He believed the French monarchy was too powerful and corrupt as a result • He feared democracy – he did not believe the masses could govern themselves

  15. Voltaire (1694-1778) • Francois-Marie Arouet • Regularly in trouble with the Law • Exiled to England where he learned to love Freedom of Speech • Most influential and popular of philosophers among elites – many traveled to England to meet with him • Regularly attacked government for corruption and tyranny • He feared democracy and the rule of the masses

  16. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) The Social Contract (1762)

  17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • He came from a poor family but worked hard to become a government minister • When injured on the job – not allowed to sue • Justice was not possible for anyone • Became very critical of government and society and championed the rights of the common person

  18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • Wrote is own version of the Social Contract • He felt that political power was man-made and rejected the Divine Right of Kings • Since nobody had any natural authority over any other person, the basis of the current government had to be wrong • Taxes and prisons were tools used by the strong to keep control the weak

  19. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • People are naturally good, but society is evil and makes individuals evil • “Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains.” • Government should be the servant of the people – not their masters. He believed in government of the people, by the people, for the people • Rousseau’s ideas were chiefly responsible for inspiring the French Revolution

  20. Broadening Discussions • Transnational “Republic of Letters” • Academies • Salons • Increasing literacy • Cheap books • Academic journals • Bookstores • cafés

  21. The Ferment of Ideas • Over the 18th Century (1700’s) the ideas of many of these philosophers took hold in the minds of educated people. Many kings and queens even read them and some made important changes in their countries as a result. • There is no evidence that King Louis XVI of France ever read them.

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