​What Was the Enlightenment

• Philosophers began to use reason and logic to understand society and governments

• Start to rethink the relationship between people and governments

• New ideas about natural rights of people

• Who should rule? Best type of government​

​-Thinks people are naturally selfish and wicked

-People would always be in state of war

- Absolute Monarchy best to keep order

-"Horrible Hobbes"​

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Thomas Hobbes​

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- Thought people could govern on own

- Positive outlook on people​

- Protect natural rights of people

life, liberty, own property

-Social Contract​ - give up some freedom for protection

-Lovely Locke - lovely outlook on people​

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John Locke

• Believed the powers of government should be separated into executive, legislative and judicial branches.

  • This is to prevent any one group from gaining too much power

• “Multiple Montesquieu” due to his views of multiple branches of gov’t.

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Montesquieu

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• Believed in the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion

• Fought for freedom of speech

• Wanted individualism and people being equal and being born of equal worth.

• "Voicing Voltaire"​

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Voltaire

• Rights for those accused of a crime

• Against Death Penalty and Cruel and Unusual Punishment

• Beating Beccaria - against beat​ings and dealt with punishments

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Beccaria

• Fought for women's rights

• Women should be educated and involved in society

• Womanly Wollstonecraft

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Mary Wollstonecraft​

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​Enlightenment and The Government

​Social Contract Theory

• The people and the government have a contract

• The government will protect your natural rights and safety and the people agree to follow laws​

• If the government isn't doing its job, the people have the right to overthrow it and replace it

Stirring Up Trouble

• ​Ideas about power and authority will start to cause trouble

• More people reading ideas and discussi​ng ideas on people and best governments

• Start Revolutions in US, France, Latin America

• Best form of government?

• Natural Rights?

• Who has a voice in government?

• Making society more just/f​air?

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Questioning!