Scientific Revolution sparked idea that intellectual reason and thinking could solve ANY social and political problem!

What is Enlightenment?

Rules discoverable by reason

This could help explain aspects of mankind

Natural Law

Believed in a POWERFUL GOVERNMENT (absolute monarchy “ABSOLUTISM”)

Thought people were naturally greedy and cruel and needed to be forcefully controlled by laws

Without laws, or “state of nature” people would be mean, poor and nasty

SOCIAL CONTRACT: people must give up natural freedoms for an organized society

Thomas Hobbes

Believed in NATURAL RIGHTS

Rights belong to all humans from birth…LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY

Best type of government was one that all accepted and had limited power TO PROTECT NATURAL RIGHTS

Rejected idea of ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

If government does not preform people should have option to GET A NEW ONE.

John Locke

SEPARATION OF POWERS will protect personal liberties

3 Branches of government that would “check and balance” one another

Montesquieu

Fought for Freedom of Thought!

Voltaire

Believed in the Social Contract

People were basically good in natural state

People only become corrupt by evils of society

Let people choose and not be tightly controlled by laws

Rousseau

Economist

Laissez faire “hands off” approach to controlling goods…FREE MARKET

NO GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS OR REGULATIONS on business activity

Let things unfold naturally…supply and demand

Adam Smith

Karl Marx• Father of Communism

• World divided into “Haves” (Owners) and “Have-Notes” (Workers)

• Believed that both groups would be pitted against each other and the “have-nots” would take over.

• Favored Communism= no more social classes/community owned

• Wrote Communist Manifesto• About how workers need to unite!