Key Terms 1
A new way of thinking about the natural world, based upon careful observation and willingness to question accepted beliefs.
Scientific Revolution
A system of government where a single monarch possesses absolute power over their citizens and makes all final decisions for the state.
Absolute Monarchy
A system within a government that divides power equally among the governing bodies to prevent any individual or group from gaining total control of the government.
Separation of Powers
One of the Core Concepts of the Philosophes that says that truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking.
Reason
One of the Claim Testers defined as carefully thinking about a claim to see if the reasoning behind it makes sense.
Logic
One of the Core Concepts of the Philosophes that called for the freedom of mankind from certain forms of oppression.
Liberty
One of the Core Concepts of the Philosophes that urged people to seek well-being on earth rather than the old notion of finding joy in the afterlife.
Happiness
A statement of the reasons for the American colonies’ break with Great Britain. Written by T. Jefferson and based on Enlightenment ideas.
Declaration of Independence
A new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems.
The Enlightenment
Social gatherings where philosophers, writers, artists, scientists, and other intellectuals met to discuss Enlightenment ideas.
Salons
One of the Claim Testers defined as accepting a claim from a credible and reliable source.
Authority
One of the Claim Testers defined as gathering verified information that supports the claim.
Evidence
One of the Core Concepts of the Philosophes that stressed that society and humankind could and should improve.
Progress
The first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens’ basic rights and freedoms.
Bill of Rights
A system of government where power rests with the people who directly make decisions on policies or elect officials to represent them when making decisions.
Democracy
Absolute monarchs who adopted some Enlightenment ideas in order to make their countries stronger and their own rule more effective.
Enlightened Despots
The theory that states that the sun is the center of the universe.
Heliocentric Theory
An agreement between free individuals to create a society and government, rather than the government creating a society for free individuals.
Rousseau's Social Contract
One of the Claim Testers defined as the initial gut feeling or when the support for a claim “just feels right”.
One of the Core Concepts of the Philosophes that says that what is natural was also good and reasonable.
Nature