The Enlightenment & the American Revolution

Linkage of the Scientific Revolution to the Enlightenment

• Belief in Progress– The successes of the Scientific Revolution gave

philosopher the confidence that human reason could solve social problems.

• More secular Perspective– Scientists made discoveries that contradicted &

challenged religious teachings. • Importance of the Individual– People turned away from the Church & royalty for

guidance - looked to themselves.– Encouraged to use their own abilities & reason to

problem solve

Core Values of the Philosophes

• 1. Reason – truth could be discovered through reason

• 2. Happiness – rejected medieval belief that people should concentrate on finding happiness in the hereafter rather than finding contentment & joy in this world

• 3. Progress – Humankind could improve• 4. Liberty – called for liberties achieve from

the Glorious Revolution in the English Bill of Rights

“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death

your right to say it”

Voltaire

Voltaire• Prolific writer who used

satire against his enemies.• Attacked clergy, aristocrats

& government• Fought for religious

freedom & speech.• Was jailed & exiled for his

beliefs.• Fought superstition,

intolerance and prejudice.• He corresponded directly

with many rulers

Hobbes

• Influenced by the English Civil War

• Human nature was wicked & life was like state of war

• Social Contract req’d people to give up liberties to an absolute monarch.

• In return they gain order & security.

• Wrote the Leviathan

Locke • Locke believed that human nature was essentially good.

• Humans were born with natural rights of life, liberty, property…..

• Purpose of goverment was to protect those rights

• If government abused it’s authority as Britain had done people had a right to overthrow that government.

Locke’s Chief Influence

• Principles include:– Natural rights– Purpose of government– Justification to overthrow

government

– Author of the Two Treatise on Government

Montesquieu

• Believed the best organization of government included:

• Separation of powers &• Checks and balances• Separation of Powers was

by itself a Check and balance

• Both ideas are part of the US Constitution.

• Wrote Spirit of the Laws

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”

Rousseau

Rousseau • Civilization corrupted man.• Only good government had to

be freely formed & guided by the “general will” of society.

• Favored “direct democracy” in which individuals agree to give up some freedoms in favor of the common good.

• Consent of governed• Titles of nobility should be

abolished• Influenced French Revolution/• Consent of the governed in US

Constitution

Music, Literature and Architectural Changes during the Enlightenment

Baroque

Neoclassical

Baroque Music

• Johann Sebastian Bach• George Friedrich Handel• Dramatic Organ &

choral music

I’ll be Bach!

Classical Music - Enlightenment• Composers– Joseph Haydn– Wolfgang Amadeus

Mozart– Ludwig van Beethoven

– Lighter, more elegant music

Literature

• Novels which had plots, suspense & character development.

• Entertaining stories enjoyed by middle classes.

• Written in language that was understood

Mercantilism vs. Laissez-Faire

• Government regulated

• Restricted trade– Tariffs– Navigation Acts

• Regulated by the market

• Liberal free trade

Mercantilism• Government regulated

economic policy based on the following beliefs:

• Wealth was measured by the amount of gold/silver in treasury which required that nations maintain favorable balance of trade.

• Colonies were desired because they (1) provided raw materials and (2) markets for finished products.

• Restrictive trade policies which was reflected in the Navigation Laws

Adam Smith• Leading physiocrat who

opposed mercantilism.• Wrote Wealth of

Nations which argued that natural forces of supply & demand should operate the economy.

• Strong supporter of laissez-faire.

• Encouraged individual initiative