THE ENLIGHTENMENT
7.2-3 ~ Analyze the Enlightenment ideas of John Locke, JeanJacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire that challenged
absolutism and influenced the development of limited
government.
The relationship between citizens and their
government is a fundamental component of
political rule.
 The Enlightenment was seen as an
intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th
centuries which sought to apply “reason” to
society to help better understand and
improve society.
 Politics- it’s structure, purpose, and
execution-was one of the areas where
“enlightened” philosophy was applied.

ABSOLUTISM:
Was the basis of most governments in Europe at
the time.
 Unlimited governments placed total or absolute
power in the hands of the rulers.
 Most governments were absolute monarchies
based on divine rights-the belief that rulers
received their power directly from God, and
therefore, citizens were expected to respond to
all decisions of the rulers without input or
challenges.
 Citizens did not have any guaranteed rights.

The political philosophy of the Enlightenment
presented a differing view that provided a direct
challenge to absolutism and influenced the
development of limited government.
 The social contract theory was the idea that
government was created as an agreement
(contract) between social groups as a way of
structuring themselves in a mutually beneficial
manner.
 These 2 components were used by
Enlightenment philosophers to help examine
and classify government.

JOHN LOCKE~ BORN IN ENGLAND







One of the great political philosophers of the Enlightenment.
Wrote his famous book, Two Treatises of Government.
Influenced the Glorious Revolution.
Locke saw the state of nature as a good place and the social
contract by a voluntary agreement to enhance life.
He believed all humans were born with natural rights, or rights
belonging to all, and therefore presented a challenge to
absolutism. Locke’s Natural Law gave everyone rights to life,
liberty and property.
According to Locke, the social contract was an agreement
between the citizens and their government, and the government’s
responsibility was to protect these rights.
Locke argued that if the government did not protect these rights,
then the people had the right to break the contract by abolishing
the government and creating a new one.
Locke’s ideas developed into the concept of the
consent of the governed, or the belief that a
government gets its approval or “consent” from
the people. He believed the government’s purpose
was to protect citizens’ rights.
 Locke’s writings had a strong influence on
American patriots like Thomas Jefferson and in his
writings of the Declaration of Independence.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU:







In 1762, Rousseau published a book called, The Social Contract which
presented his political ideas.
Had a similar belief about the state of nature but his viewpoint was
different about the role of government.
Saw society as the corrupting influencing on people, it was the role of
government to protect the “general will” of the people.
It was the government’s duty to implement policies deemed beneficial for
the general populace, or by basing decisions on majority rule.
Rousseau’s ideas, along with Locke’s, formed the foundation for the idea of
popular sovereignty which was is used in limited governments today.
Popular Sovereignty ~ like consent of the governed~ dictates that
government gets their power based on what the people or citizens want.
American colonists largely rejected Rousseau, but his writings would later
provide part of the foundation for totalitarian governments.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU





Focused on governmental organizations by promoting the ideas of
separation of powers and checks and balances.
By creating a separation of powers, a government must be limited as
each branch checks the others’ powers.
Montesquieu greatly admired the English system of limited government
from which he garnered these concepts.
Published a book in 1748~ The Spirit of Laws.
These concepts did not originate with him, but he was largely
responsible for popularizing them and modifying the English system of
the time having 2 branches (executive and legislative) to having 3
branches:
_ The Executive Branch (Monarch)
_ The Legislative Branch (Parliament)
_ The Judicial Branch (Courts)

The influence of his ideas is apparent in the U.S. Constitution.
VOLTAIRE:





Voltaire ~ the pen name of Francois- Marie Arouet focused
on civil liberties, mainly freedom of speech and religion.
His influence on limited government was mainly in the area
of rights of the citizens.
He wrote many books and plays to demonstrate the use of
reason and voice his views on social reforms, often showing
his dislike of religious intolerance, advocating a separation
of church and state, and modeling the right to express
personal opinion through free speech.
Voltaire blamed the Roman Catholic Church leaders for
keeping knowledge from the people.
He believed all people had the right to choose their own
religion.
THE ENLIGHTENMENT – PART II








The 1700’s were known as the “Age of Enlightenment”.
France was the major center of The Enlightenment.
European thinkers believed “reason” could uncover scientific laws
that would help govern and direct all human life.
The ideas of Liberty and Equality threatened the powerful kings
because they feared they would lose their power as the people gained
more freedom.
During this time period, if a ruler took away or abused people’s
natural rights, people could revolt and begin a new government.
An Enlightened Despot was a ruler who embraced Enlightenment
ideas.
Austria and Prussia were 2 German states that became great
European powers.
In the 1600 and 1700’s, Germany was made up of a collection of
300 states.
IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT:
1. Frederick the Great was a
European power who ruled Prussia.
2. Mary Wollstonecraft was
the most powerful
supporter of women’s
rights during the time of
The Enlightenment.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT:
3. Thomas Hobbs
believed humans were
naturally cruel and only
strong leaders could
direct them.
4. Denis Diderot spent 20
years developing the 28
book set known as the
encyclopedia which
helped spread
information in print for
the subjects of science,
religion, government
and the arts.