Vocabulay 2

The Enlightenment is a period of time where people's original way of thinking is altered, or changed. Also, a time when the study of science, astronomy, and philosophy mesh together in order change societies approach to life, religion, and/or government.

The Scientific Revolution (Age of Reason) changed European's view on the world. The fathers of this revolution showed society the importance of human reason. It brought about ideas of natural law (rules made possibel by reason), social contract (deal by which people gave up their freedom for an organized society), and natural rights (rights intitled to someone at birth).

Copernicus was a Polish astronomer and mathematician. He also was the first to disprove that the universe did not revolve around Earth. He then discovered that the universe orbits around the sun (heliocentric). The Catholic Church rejected his heliocentric idea ;nevertheless, it was the start of a change in the way the world was viewed, and Copernicus became one of the fathers of the Scientific Revolution.

John Locke was a British philosopher. He believed the majority of people were rational and ethical. He came up with the idea of natural rights (see Scientific Revolution def.), in which included the right to life, liberty, and property. He was concerned one of the most influencial philosopher of the Enlightenment. He wrote many essays supported the rights of life and human understanding.

Montesquieu was a English philosopher. He believed everything was made of unchangeable laws and rules. He evaluated these laws scientifically in order to better understand their importance in society. he thought the best working government would be one that was divided equally between three groups of officials. Those three groups of officials would soon be known as the three branches of the American Government (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative). He also created the concept of checks and balances, in which guarentees that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher from Switzerland. He created the ideas of social contract (see Scientific revolution def.) and sovereignty (supreme authority within a territory). he thought a civilization was made of corrupted people. He believe that a "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in shackles."

Voltaire was a French philosopher. He studied law, but quit in order to write. He was sent to Bastille (prison) twice because of his comments. He spoke out against established religious and political systems and took intrest in any cases of injustice (religious prejudice). Thought up the idea of separation of church and state (religious freedom). He was a very sarcastic man, who gave criticism and expressing his own opinion by making fun of people and ideas. He didn't take himself too seriously.

Thomas Paine was an English philosopher who wrote the famous book Common Sense. He supported the voice of the common man and one of the first to say that Britian should not rule America because they are selfish and they are not the only country occupying the land. He committed himself to striving toward American independence. He also advised an instant declaration of independence and the organization of a republican constitution.

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote the book Leviathan. He had a very negative view on people. He believed people were selfish and as long as power is availiable, people are always going to desire that power. According to Hobbes, government soul purpose is protect people from their own selfishness and evil. He thought a short, strong government should control people.

Common Sense was a book written by Thomas Paine. It was published in 1776, and challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. Thomas Paine used a language in which the common people of America could understand and it was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.