The Scientific Revolution (16th and 17th century)Nicholas Copernicus

Heliocentric model challenges both established science and the Church

Opens the door to the questioning of other realms

Francis BaconScientific Method –

man can now use reason to explain the world around him – no need for God in science

Bacon’s Scientific Method

Isaac NewtonDevelops mathematical

ideas that explain the physical universe

Laws of Motion

1) An object in motion will remain in motion

2) Force = mass X acceleration

3) For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

18th century Enlightenment – The Age of Reason

Revolution in philosophyPhilosophers, inspired by scientists, started

questioning God and God’s role in societyParticular emphasis was placed on criticizing

government and the churchParis, France was the hotbed of reason –

rather ironically, it was also the center of Absolutism and Divine Right

Philosophers wrote the words that inspired revolutionaries, both in America and in France

John Locke and Jean Jacque Rousseau

LockeEnglish philosopherBelieved that men are

entitled to life, liberty and PROPERTY

Inspiration for the American founding fathers (all were rich, white, educated men)

Government should protect us from us – first priority was to provide security and order

RousseauFrench PhilosopherBelieved that all men are

entitiled to life, liberty and EQUALITY

Inspiration for the French revolutionaries (many women and poor commoners)

Government should promote equality among all men

John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau

The “Social Contract”Men form governments.Governments must respond to the needs of men.

If a government does not respond to the needs of men, men have the right to change the government.

Views on the Social ContractWho are the “men”? Who determines whether or not the government is

serving the needs of men?What does it mean to “change” the government?There have been different answers to these questions from throughout

history……………..LockeRousseauAmerican Founding FathersFrench RevolutionariesKarl MarxSouthern leaders in the US in 1861Vladimir LeninChairman MaoWhat about today?

VoltaireFrench philosopher who

attacked the Church and the French government though his short novel, Candide and other works

Advocated freedom of religion and separation of church and state

Advocated the right of citizens to a fair and impartial trial

Adam SmithEnglish economist and

philosopher who attacked the idea of government intervention in the economy

Advocated “laissez-faire” economics (hands off)

Believed in a pure capitalist system where the “law of supply and demand” would determine prices

David HumeEnglish philosopher who

questioned the existence of God

Used a logical and scientific argument to question faith

Since faith itself is irrational, what makes one faith right for everyone?

Heavily criticized by the Anglican Church, of which he was a member, but never wavered in his views

Deism and the Watchmaker TheoryEnlightenment age religion that advocated a belief in God (even if that

belief was irrational)God was there in the beginning, and will be there in the end, but in

between we’re on our ownImagine an old style windup watch……God made the watch and

wound it up, but then left it alone. He’ll be back when the watch needs to be rewound

No need for prayer or worship – it’s counterproductive – God’s not listening anyway

Humans have ultimate free choice and free willMany of the American founding fathers believed in Deism – Thomas

Jefferson was probably the most famousVoltaire also advocated Deism and the right to freedom of religion

The American Revolution

The American RevolutionNot really a classic “revolution” in the sense that a social

class did not revolt against the one above itReally more of a war for independence, but it did

incorporate rhetoric from the Age of Reason American revolutionary LEADERS studied Locke and others

– they certainly believed in the rhetoric, but the average “patriot” in the street paid little in the way of taxes, so “no taxation without representation” was little more than a slogan.

The new government formed after the revolution was at least outwardly based on enlightenment principles, although it would be decades before most of those principles were actually put into practice – think of how long it took women to receive the vote.

Declaration of IndependenceWritten by Thomas

JeffersonRestatement of the

social contractList of grievances –

what King George III did to break the contract

Considered the first true government document containing enlightenment principles

Used as a pattern for revolutions around the world

Enlightened Despotism in Central and Eastern Europe

Enlightened DespotismIdea found in Central and Eastern Europe whereby

monarchs and emperors made changes to their societies in which modernized the states while the people earned some political and social rights

Monarchs still maintained absolute control, but instead of justifying their rule by divine right (God), they instead saw themselves at the head of the people

Most of the ideas were really designed to PREVENT revolution (governments must serve the needs of men)

Many of the reforms were eventually rescinded after the people tried to get even more rights (revolutions were often brutally repressed

Fredrick the Great of Prussia•Emperor of Prussia in the Northern Germanic Lands•Modernized the military and opened officer positions to middle and lower classes•Modernized the Prussian government and opened positions to people of merit instead of cronies

Catherine the Great of RussiaModernized the Russian

army and governmentStudied in France during

the EnlightenmentTried to link Russia to the

West through trade and diplomatic relations

Increased Russia’s territory, especially against the Ottomans (Turks) – sought to link Russia to its Slavic neighbors to the south

Maria Theresa and Joseph II of the Hapsburg Empire (Austria)Note – mother and brother to Marie Antoinette (Queen of France)Serfdom abolished in the

Hapsburg LandsGranted freedom of religion

(very radical idea, especially in a Catholic empire)

Established a national education system

Developed equality before the law, even for the nobility

Many of the reforms were rolled back after revolutions broke out among the minority populations of the Hapsburg Empire