| A | B |
|---|
| Enlightenment | Age of Reason. An intellectual movement where reason was applied to laws that shaped human actions. |
| social contract | According to Thomas Hobbes, an agreement people make with government |
| John Locke | Philosopher who wrote "Two Treatises on Government" about natural rights and the purpose of government to protect them. |
| Purpose of government, according to Locke | To protect the rights of it's citizens. When it fails to do so, people have the right to overthrow the government |
| Thomas Hobbes | Wrote Leviathan (1651): humans naturally selfish and wicked, thus we give up power to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order. |
| natural rights | life, liberty, property |
| philosophes | French philosophers in France in mid-1700's |
| Concepts which formed core of philosophe's beliefs | 1. Reason 2. Nature 3. Happiness 4. Progress 5. Liberty |
| Voltaire | French philosopher who published political essays, philosophy, history, fiction and drama. |
| Montesquieu | French writer concerned with government and political liberty |
| separation of powers | Montesquieu's idea that power should be divided between different branches of government |
| Checks and balances | Came from Motesquieu's quote that "Power should be a check to power." Influenced U.S. Constitution |
| Jean Jacques Rousseau | Enlightenment thinker who championed individual freedom |
| Beccaria | Italian philosopher who spoke to crimes of the justice system. Said capital punishment should be abolished. |
| Mary Wollstonecraft | Published essay called "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" in 1792 arguing for women's education and the right to participate in politics. |
| Impact of the Enlightenment | 1. Inspired the American and French Revolutions 2. Belief that human reason could solve social problems 3. Created a more secular outlook 4. The importance of the individual |
