Chapter 16

The Enlightenment and

the Age of Reason
The Beginnings of The Enlightenment
•  Scientists and philosophers used reason to seek truths
about human nature because they wanted to
enlighten, or shine light on, this new way of finding
out about the world was called Enlightenment.
•  The Enlightenment is also known as the Age of
Reason.
•  During the Middle Ages, Christian faith was more
important than reason.
•  Christianity introduced the idea that all people were
equal to God, and equality became a key feature of
Enlightenment thinking.
•  Ancient Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance, the
Reformation all contributed to the Enlightenment.
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 The Scientific Method
•  In the 1600s, Rene Descartes and Francis Bacon
had a huge impact on how scientists studied the
world.
•  Rene Descartes from France believed every idea
should be doubted until proven by reason.
•  Descartes said “I think therefore I am.” Descartes
believed that people could use their minds to
understand the physical world.
•  Sir Francis Bacon from England felt scientists
should use experiments and observations to study
science and understand the world.
1)  Make observations to determine the problem
2)  Form a hypothesis (If…then…)
3)  Test the hypothesis through experiments
4)  Use reason to analyze the results (Was the
hypothesis correct or wrong? Why?)
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 European Philosophers
•  John Locke from Oxford University, wrote that
power of government came from people, not from
God or a ruler.

•  Locke believed that the government was bound to

protect people’s natural rights of life, liberty, and
property.

•  Locke argues that people had a right to revolt if a

ruler failed to protect people’ natural rights.

•  Thinkers known as philosophes, which is French for

philosophers, believed reason could solve every
problem and began to apply scientific method to try
to solve social problems.

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 Other European Philosophers
•  Francois Marie Arouet, better known as Voltiare,
spoke out against religious intolerance and
superstitions in the Church.
•  Voltaire also called for freedom of speech and that
each person had a right to liberty (freedom).
•  Baron de Montesquieu opposed absolute monarchs, a
system of government ruled by kings and queens.
•  Montesquieu thought that a government should be
divided into 3 separate branches (separation of
power), in order to create checks and balances of
power.
•  Jean Jacque Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, in
which he argued that democracy was the best form of
government.
•  Rousseau believed all people were created equal, and
that people should decide by votes how they want to
be governed.
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 Bill of Rights
(First 10 Amendments of the
Constitution)
1)  Religious and Political Freedom
2)  Right to Bear Arms
3)  Quartering Troops
4)  Search and Seizure
5)  Rights of Accused Persons
6)  Right to a Speedy and Public Trial
7)  Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
8)  Limits of Fines and Punishments
9)  Rights of People
10) Powers of States and People
 Women and the Enlightenment
•  Philosophers strongly supported the equality of
men, but most still had traditional views about
women.
•  During the Enlightenment, women took up the
cause of women’s rights.
•  Wealthy and talented women hosted social
gatherings called salons.
•  In the salons, the era’s best thinkers and artists
(both men and women) discussed ideas on an
equal basis.
•  In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft published A
Vindication of the Rights of Women to argue that
well-educated women would help create better
families.
•  Women were not able to vote in the U.S. until the
passage of the 19th Amendment in August 18,
1920.
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 Democratic Ideas Develop (Part 1)
•  European monarch wanted to use their power in a
just and enlightened way were known as
enlightened despots.
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great responsibility.”
Stan Lee (Uncle Ben to Peter Parker in The Amazing
Spider-Man)

Frederick II of Prussia
•  Frederick II ruled Prussia (what is now Poland and
northern Germany) from 1740 until 1786.
•  Frederick was a Protestant, and called himself “the
first servant of the state.”
•  Frederick’s several reforms included: religious
tolerance toward Catholics, a more just legal
system, freedom of the press, improved education,
and outlawed.
 Democratic Ideas Develop (Part 2)
Joseph II of Austria
•  Joseph II of Austria ruled from 1780 to 1790, and
based his reforms on the principles of equality and
freedom.
•  Joseph abolished serfdom, allowed freedom of the
press, freedom of worship (even Jews), improved
the justice system, and abolished the death
penalty.
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Catherine the Great

•  Catherine the Great of Russia ruled from 1762 to
1786.
•  Catherine supported ideas of Montesquieu
(separation of powers and checks/balances),
developed Russia’s natural resources, supported
the arts, opened hospitals and schools.
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 Democracy in America
•  Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George
Washington, James Madison, and other Founding
Fathers led Americans’ revolt against Great Britain
during the American Revolution.
•  Americans revolted against Great Britain because
they had to pay taxes, but felt the British
government was not protecting their rights.
•  Americans were angry that they were not
represented in the British Parliament, “no taxation,
without representation.”
•  On July 5, 1776, the American colonies declared
independence from Britain with the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
•  The DI had John Locke’s belief in natural rights
and equality when it is written that, “all men are
created equal.”
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