Enlightenment Review

Denis Diderot

Made Encyclopedia. Funded by most influential salon hostess Marie - Thérèse Geoffrin. Encyclopedia - large set of books to which many leading scholars of Europe contributed articles and essays. First volumes published in 1751. Angered French government and Catholic church. Censors banned, said it undermined royal authority, encouraged spirit of revolt, and fostered moral corruption nonreligious, and unbelief. Spread enlightenment ideas to educated people all over Europe.

Role of Women

Woman tried to improve status of women. Mary Wollstonecraft started the womans equality movement. Male critics scolded women for wanting equality, but some argued for more education for women and equality in marriage. Wealthy women helped spread ideas through salons, one woman translated Newton's work from Latin to French.

Change in Music/Musicians

lighter, and more elegant style of music known as classical emerged. Hayden, Mozart, and Beethoven emerged. Rather than the dramatic organ and choral music of Bach and Handel.

13 Colonies Independence

After the revolutionary war and many conflicts between the British and the U.S. The constitution is based off of: Locke: A government's power comes from the consent of the people. Montesquieu: Separation of powers Rousseau: Direct democracy Voltaire: Free speech, religious toleration Beccaria: Accused have rights, no torture.

Limited Democracy

Government that includes voting but does not allow everyone to vote (in 18th century generally only white, land-owning males could vote)

US Constitution

Has ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Distrusted a powerful government controlled by one group. 3 branches legislative, executive, and judicial. Setup provided a built - in system of checks and balances. Each branch checks the actions of the other 2. Created strong central government, and local government. Federal system.

Absolute Monarchy

Held all power within state's boundaries. Their goal was to control every aspect of society. Absolute monarchs believed in divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy and the monarch acted as God's representative on Earth. An absolute monarch answered only to God, not to his or her subjects. Regulated religious worship and social gatherings to control spread of ideas. Rulers increased the size of their courts to appear more powerful. created bureaucracies to control their countries economies.

Enlightenment Beginnings

In wake of Scientific Revolution people started to reevaluate old notions about other aspects of society. Sought new insight into underlying beliefs regarding government, religion, economics, and education. Efforts spurred Enlightenment. Started from some key ideas put forth by Hobbes and Locke. That a government's power comes from the consent of the governed.

Baron De Montesquieu

Influential French writer. Devoted himself to study of political liberty. believed Britain was the best - governed and most politically balanced country of his day. King and ministers held executive power. Carried out laws of the state. The members of Parliament held legislative power. Made laws. Montesquieu encouraged separation of power. Idea: power should check power. Idea called later checks and balances. Admired by political leaders in British colonies of North America. Basis of US constitution.

Salons

Large social gathering of philosopher, writers, artists, scientists, and other great intellects. They discuss ideas in these. Held in the mansions of several wealthy women of Paris. Held in the drawing rooms of these mansions. Enlithenment ideas were most intense here. Most influential hostess in Voltaire's time was Marie - Thérèse Geoffrin.

Enlightenment Beliefs

Major Ideas: Natural rights of live, liberty, and property which was given by Locke. Separation of power by Montesquieu. Freedom of thought and expression by Voltaire. Abolishment of torture by Beccaria, Religious freedom by Voltaire, Women's equality by Wollstonecraft. 5 concepts are the core of their beliefs: Reason: Enlightened thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason, Nature: Philosophies believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable, Happiness: Philosophies rejected the medieval notion that people should find joy in the hereafter and urged people to seek well being on earth. Progress: The philosophies stressed that society and humankind could improve. Liberty: The philosophies called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights.

Enlightened Despot

Many philosophies, including Voltaire believed that the best form of government was a monarchy in which the ruler respected the people's rights. The philosophies tried to convince monarchs to rule justly. Some monarchs embraced the new ideas and made reformer that reflected the Enlightenment spirit. They became known as enlightened despots (Despot means absolute ruler). The enlightened despots supported the philosophies ideas. They also had no intention of giving up power. The changes they made were motivated by 2 desires: They wanted to make their countries stronger and their won rule more effective. The foremost despots where Fredrick II, Joseph II, and Catherine the Great.

Constitutional Monarchy

Montesquieu thought that this was the best type of governing system. The king and ministers held executive power. They carried out laws of the state. The members of parliament held legislative power. They made the laws. The judges of the English courts held judicial power. They interpreted the laws to see how each applied to a specific case.

Religion

More secular outlook. People began to question beliefs and teachings of the church. Critics attacked some of beliefs and practices of organized Christianity. Wanted to rid religious faith of superstition and fear and promote tolerance of all religion. The French revolution totally abolished religion in France for that time.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Passionately committed to individual freedom. Soon of a poor Swiss watchmaker. Won recognition for essays. Strange, brilliant, and controversial figure. Disagreed with many enlightenment thinkers on many matters. He thought that man was being restricted too much, and that civilization was corrupting peoples goodness. he said that the the only good government was a direct democracy. Explained philosophy in the book called The Social Contract. Inspired many leaders of the French revolution. Legitimate government came from the consent of the governed.

Partition of Poland

Polish king relatively weak. Nobles held most of power. 3 power (Russia, Prussia, and Austria) Tried to assert influence over the country. 1772 - each power took a piece of Poland which is called 1st partition of Poland. In further partitions in 1793 and 1795 grabbed up rest of Poland's territory. With these partitions Poland disappeared as an independent country for more than a century.

Voltaire

Real Name: François Marie Arouet. Published more than 70 books of political essays, philosophy, and drama. Used satire. Made frequent targets of clergy, aristocracy, and government. Made enemies at French court. Sent to prison twice, exiled to England for 2 years. Never stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of religion and speech, defended liberty. Said I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it. Great writer. His Ideas: Freedom of thought, expression, and religious freedom. Impact: Guaranteed in U.S. Bill of Rights and French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen; European monarchs reduce persecution and reduce or eliminate censorship.

Catherine the Great

Ruled: 1792 - 1796. Absolute ruler, wanted to reform Russia. Formed commission to review Russia's laws. Brilliant proposal for reforms. Wanted to allow religious toleration, abolish torture, abolish capital punishment. (Commission achieved none of these gals) Did not do much to help Russian peasants. When serfs up-rose crushed rebellion. Favored nobles more than serfs. Catherine got access to the north shore of Black sea, got part of Poland.

Frederick II's Accomplishments

Ruler of Prussia. Granted many religious freedoms, reduced censor ship, improved education. Reformed justice system, abolished use of torture. Believed serfdom was wrong - never did anything about it since he needed support of religious landowners. Never tried to change existing social order. Called himself first servant of state. His goal was to serve and strengthen his country.

Louis VXI

Shy, dull, and corpulent, he preferred the hunting field and his locksmith's workshop to the council chamber; indecisiveness made him subject to the poor advice of his intimates. Louis was well intentioned and sincerely wanted to improve lives of common people. Lacked ability to make decisions and determination to see policies through. When he did take action is based on poor advice. Very weak leader.

Bill of Rights

Supporters of the constitution were called federalists. To gain support they promised to add a bill of rights to the constitution. Congress formally added to the Constitution the ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights. Promoted basic rights - freedom of speech press, assembly, and religion. Advocated by Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke. Made a turning point people's ideas about government. Put enlightenment ideas into practice.