A period when people began using observation, experimentation, and reason to understand the natural world.
What was the Scientific Revolution
A French philosopher who believed in separation of powers in government.
Who was Baron de Montesquieu and what did he believe in?
An intellectual movement that used reason to reform society and government.
Enlightenment
Absolute monarchs who embraced some Enlightenment ideas to strengthen their rule
enlightened absolutists
What are individual rights
Freedoms and protections guaranteed to each person: life liberty property
A step-by-step process for testing ideas using observation, experimentation, and analysis.
Define the scientific method.
Natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and the right to overthrow bad governments.
What were the key ideas of John Locke?
What is another name for the Enlightenment
Age of Reason
Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers reflected in the U.S. government
It created three branches: legislative, executive, judicial
Give an example of the Enlightenment idea in government
Separation of powers, checks and balances, natural rights
A philosopher who stressed logic and reason
René Descartes
To protect their private property.
According to Rousseau, why had people originally adopted laws and governments?
The idea that government power comes from the people.
popular sovereignty.
How did Enlightenment ideas challenge absolute monarchs
They questioned divine right of kings and promoted individual rights
How did Enlightenment ideas affect religion in society
They encouraged religious tolerance
The idea that the sun is at the center of the universe, not Earth.
What is the heliocentric theory?
He spread Enlightenment ideas by compiling knowledge into Encyclopedias
Denis Diderot
The agreement where people give up some freedoms in exchange for protection by government
social contract
Reason was seen as the primary tool for solving problems and improving society
Enlightenment thinking
You have the right to determine your own destiny
SELF DETERMINATION
People began relying on evidence and reason instead of tradition and authority.
How did the Scientific Revolution change the way people think?
Influenced the Declaration of Independence with natural rights
John Locke.
the government should not interfere with the economy
laissez-faire
The Enlightenment influenced which revolution
American revolution
What institution lost a lot of power and was threatened by the Enlightenment
The Catholic Church