The Enlightenment: The Age of Reason

Contributed by:

Steve Thu, Feb 03, 2022 11:46 AM UTC

This booklet provides information about the Enlightenment and how did it change the European idea of government. It also tells some of the major figures of the Enlightenment and some of the major themes that the Enlightenment stood for.

1. The Enlightenment
(The Age of Reason)
What was the Enlightenment and how
did it change the European idea of
government?

2. What was the Enlightenment?
 What does
“enlightenment” mean?
÷ Higher understanding of a
particular idea
 The Enlightenment was
an intellectual movement
in Europe during the
mid-to-late 1700ʼs
÷ Changing ideas of
government and society

3. How did the Enlightenment start?
 The Enlightenment grew
out of the turmoil of
Europe following the rise
of the absolute monarchs
 People were questioning
long-held truths
÷ “divine right”
÷ Religion
÷ Science
÷ Personal freedoms

4. What were some of the major themes that the
Enlightenment stood for?
 The Enlightenment thinkers
stood for a number of
ideals:
1. Reason = logical thinking
2. Progress = faith in science
3. Liberty = individual freedoms
4. Goodness = Man by nature is
good
5. Individuality = One person can
make a difference
 Main gathering place =
Paris, France

5. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Thomas Hobbs
¡ Book = Leviathan (1651)
÷ People by nature are
selfish & wicked
• Needs a strong ruler
to keep order
÷ “social contract”
• People give up some
rights for order

6. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
John Locke
¡ Book = Two Treatises of
Government (1690)
÷ People learn best through
experience / improvement
÷ People are born with
certain rights
• “natural rights”

7. Was Thomas Jefferson a plagiarist?

8. Jefferson went
through several
drafts with the help
of Franklin & Adams
before finally putting
together the finished
Drew inspiration for
thinkers of the day,
such as John Locke.

9. The Declaration is one of many documents on display at the
National Archives as part of the “Charters of Freedom” exhibit

10. Plagiarism is bad…especially in Philly

11. Mr. Hʼs Favorite Scene from National
Treasure

12. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Voltaire (nor-de plum)
¡ Francois Arouet
÷ The “Jon Stewart” of this
day (satire)
¡ A champion for tolerance
of others
÷ Freedom / tolerance of all
religions

13. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Jean Jacques Rousseau
¡ Book = The Social Contract (1762)
¡ A champion for individual
freedoms
• Everyone has a equal
stake in government
matters

14. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Cesare Beccaria
¡ Book = On Crime &
Punishment (1764)
¡ Criticized justice system in
Europe & abusive punishment
¢ Trial by jury
¢ Anti-torture
¢ Anti-capital punishment

15. Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Mary Wollstonecraft
¡ Essay = A Vindication of
the Rights of Women (1792)
¡ One of the worldʼs first
“feminists”
• Pro-education
• Women have a right to
be involved in politics

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