Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Revolution and Enlightenment

Section 1: The Scientific Revolution

• Sometimes called the Age of Reason• Causes:

– Expansion of trade led to navigational and sea voyage problems (e.g.: correctly calculating the amount of weight ships could hold)

– New inventions (telescope and microscope) made new scientific discoveries possible

– Study of mathematics promoted during the Renaissance

– Development of the printing press

• Science– Prior to the SR, people

believed that the earth was the center of the universe (geocentric theory/Ptolemaic system)

• Several scientists’ work would prove that the sun was the center of the universe (heliocentric theory)

– Nicholas Copernicus: wrote On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres supporting the heliocentric theory

– Johannes Kepler: proposed that the planets’ orbital paths were elliptical – called Kepler’s First Law

– Galileo: using a telescope, he saw mountains on the Moon, moons revolving around Jupiter, and sunspots – published his discoveries

• Considered the greatest genius of the Scientific Revolution, Sir Isaac Newton was able to tie the theories of the previous mathematicians together.– He published his work in Mathematical

Principles of Natural Philosophy.– He defined the three laws of motion as

well as the universal law of gravitation.

• Medicine and Chemistry– Andreas Vesalius dissected human bodies while

working as a professor of surgery. He published his findings in his book, On the Fabric of the Human Body.• Prior to the SR, knowledge of the human body

was based on the work of Galen, a Greek physician, that dissected animals.

– William Harvey published his book On the Motion of the Heart and Blood

• Chemistry– Robert Boyle conducted experiments on the

properties of gases, which led to Boyle’s Law – Antoine Lavoisier developed a system of naming

the chemical elements that still exists today. Considered the founder of modern chemistry.

• Astronomy– Maria Winkelmann made some original

contributions, including the discovery of a comet.• She would eventually apply for a position of assistant

astronomer at the Berlin Academy but was denied because she was a woman.

• Scientific Method– Francis Bacon developed

the Scientific Method.• He was a philosopher, not

a scientist. He believed that people should use systematic observations and carefully organized experiments to answer a problem. This led to the SM.

** End of Notes**

Section 2: The Enlightenment

• The Enlightenment was:– a philosophical movement led by intellectuals.– a result of the achievements of the Scientific

Revolution.– an aim to make a better society by using the

scientific method.– was influenced by the ideas of two individuals, Sir

Isaac Newton and John Locke.

• John Locke believed that people were molded by their experiences from the surrounding environment. With the right influences and experiences, people could be changed and a new society created.

Thomas Hobbes

• Believed humans were solitary, poor, brutish, & selfish before society was organized.

• Made a social contract to be governed• Thought absolute rule was best to

reserve order• Rebellion should be surpressed

• Intellectuals of the Enlightenment were called philosophes (French for philosophers).

• The 3 main philosophes of the Enlightenment were:– Montesquieu– Voltaire– Diderot

• Montesquieu studied different governments and identified three basic types:– Republic– Despotism– Monarchies

• While studying England’s government, he determined that it had three separate branches:– Executive (the monarch)– Legislative (parliament)– Judicial (the courts)

• The government functioned through a separation of powers which limited the control of each branch.

• Voltaire wrote an enormous amount of pamphlets, novels, plays, letters, and essays which brought him fame and fortune.– He criticized Christianity and had a strong belief in

religious toleration.– He supported deism which was the belief that God

created the world but has since left it to be governed by its own natural laws.

• Diderot wrote the Encyclopedia, which was his greatest contribution to the Enlightenment. It’s purpose was to change the general way of thinking. It was sold to doctors, clergymen, teachers, and lawyers which spread the ideas of the Enlightenment.

• Other individuals that had an impact on the Enlightenment period– Adam Smith - supported the idea of laissez-faire which

states that the government should intervene as little as possible in the economic affairs of the country

– Jean-Jacques Rousseau – wrote the Social Contract; he believed a society agrees to be governed by its general will

Paris & Salons

• Paris, France was hub, center of Enlightenment activity

• Salon- social gathering to exchange ideas in home of upper class

• Column Headings– Philosophes– Government– Society

• Rows– 1) Baron de

Montesquieu– 2) Adam Smith– 3) Jean-Jacques

Rousseau– 4) John Locke

* Write each person’s essential ideas about government and society.

Philosophes Government Society

Baron de Montesquieu

Adam Smith

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Mary Wollstonecraft

Section 3: The Impact of the Enlightenment

• The ideas of the Enlightenment had an impact on art, music, & literature!

• Literature became popular among the growing middle-class readers.

• Some Absolute Rulers appeared to embrace Enlightenment principles but RARELY applied them to their kingdom or people!

Section 4: Colonial Empires and the American Revolution

– Brought about profit for Europe• Supply of gold and silver• Trade of sugar, tobacco, diamonds, and animal hides

• In North America– Merchants in the growing trade cities did not want

the British government to interfere with their affairs.

– Britain was taxing the colonies to build a revenue to cover the money lost during the Seven Years War

• Issued the Stamp Act which taxed published documents and newspapers

• The colonies organized the counteract the British actions.– First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in

1774– Fighting broke out in April of 1775 in Lexington

and Concord• Second Continental Congress meets to form an army

called the Continental Army, with George Washington as commander

• On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. (It was based on the ideas of John Locke)

• The Treaty of Paris of 1783 officially recognized the independence of the American colonies.

• America’s first constitution was the Articles of Confederation.– Did not create a strong central government, thus

failing as a constitution.• In 1787, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia to

revise the Articles.– Meeting known as the Constitutional Convention

• The Constitution created a federal system – power would be shared between the national government and the state governments.– Federal government – levy taxes, raise an army,

regulate trade, and create a national currency.• The Bill of Rights were added in 1789.

– Guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, assembly, right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches and arrests, trial by jury, due process, and protection of property.