Enlightenment philosophers were inspired by the Scientific Revolution.

1

• Enlightenment philosophers were inspired by the
  Scientific Revolution.

2

• They wanted to improve society. So, they
  questioned everything.

3

• What was the best form of government? What was
  the best way to end poverty? What? How? Why?

4

• Thomas Hobbes was an English political
  philosopher. He believed that only a strong
  monarch could maintain law and order.

5

• Hobbes defended royal absolutism.

6

• But Hobbes did not believe the kings power came
  from God. He believed it came from the people.
  He challenged the divine right of kings.

7

• John Locke believed that human nature is governed
  by natural laws. In order to obey natural laws,
  all humans must exercise natural rights the
  rights to life, liberty, and property.

8

• Locke argued that the function of government was
  to protect these rights.

9

• If a government did not do this, the citizens
  then had the natural right to change it for one
  that would.

10

• Montesquieu believed that the best way to prevent
  despotism (the exercise of unlimited power) was
  to divide political power.

11

• He suggested that all governments should provide
  for the separation of powers among the executive,
  legislative, and judicial parts.

12

• Rousseau believed in a Social Contract. He
  believed that the members of society would make a
  contract to give up some of their freedom in
  order to serve the common interests of all the
  people in the society.

13

• The general will would determine the common
  interest.

14

• Voltaire wrote against religious intolerance and
  criticized governments that persecuted people for
  following their own faith.

15

• Enlightenment ideas clearly influenced the
  American Revolution.

16

• The ideas of the Enlightenment changed world
  history.