Chapter 2 - The impact of the Enlightenment in France

Question 1

What was the Enlightenment and when did it take place?

Answer 1

1740-1789 (ish)
An intellectual movement that spread across Europe where writers and thinkers challenged a wide range of accepted views of the time such as religion, nature and absolute monarchy.

Question 2

What were some key considerations of the enlightenment?

3 points

Answer 2

• nature of society
• people’s relationships with each other
• exploring ideas of freedom
• explored ideas of liberty and equality

Question 3

Enlightenment and France?

Answer 3

The Enlightenment had a particularly strong influence in France around this time.

Question 4

Who led the Enlightenment in France?

Answer 4

Leading Enlightenment writers and thinkers in France were the philosophes

Question 5

Who were the philosophes?

Answer 5

Many contributes to the most important work of the Enlightenment = the Encyclopeadia (Diderot published in 1750-72)

Question 6

What was the aim of the philosophes and heir Encyclopaedia?

Answer 6

Aimed to ‘change the way people think’

Question 7

What did Enlightenment articles deal with (4) and why was this a problem?

Answer 7

Dealt with topics like:

• ‘reason’
• agricultural techniques
• printing
• metalwork

Scientific approach directly challenged ideas held by the Church and other institutions = CAUSED HUGE CONTROVERSY - Church wanted it suppressed

Question 8

Names of some of the most influential philosophes?

3 points

Answer 8

• Montesquieu
• Voltaire
• Rousseau

Question 9

What were the beliefs of the three leading philosophes?

2 points

Answer 9

Expressed a deep dislike of organised religion and discussed how social and political institutions may be changed for the good of the people.
Also questioned the Ancien Regime but did not advocate revolution.

Question 10

What were Montesquieu’s beliefs?

Answer 10

Criticised royal absolutism but argued that it was the role of aristocracy to limit royal power, not the people.

Question 11

What were Voltire’s beliefs?

Answer 11

Criticised the Catholic Church and religious intolerance but believed religion was necessary to preserve public morals. He defended royal authority.

Question 12

What were Rousseau’s beliefs?

Answer 12

Argued that a despotic monarch could be overthrown by their subjects and that sovereignty resided in the people rather than the King

Question 13

How did the philosophes reach a wider audience + example?

Answer 13

Reached a wider audience through stories and plays.

Eg. Voltaire’s popular novel Candide = banned for blasphemy and Voltire was imprisoned in the Bastille

Question 14

How were Enlightenment ideas spread?

Answer 14

Ideas largely spread through the salons.

Also discussed in increasing number of cafes, Masonic Lodges and growing number of newspapers (80 by 1785)

Question 15

What were salons and what did people discuss?

Answer 15

A gathering of educated and interesting people at the hoe of a host who would choose the company carefully in order to increase and refine the knowledge of those participating.
They discussed:
- art
- literature
- politics

Question 16

Aside from the Enlightenment, what else was providing ideas challenging the Ancien Regime at this time and when?

Answer 16

American War of Independence in 1778.
- American colonies had been in revolt against the British rule and many in France were sympathetic to the colonists cause of freedom and democracy.

Question 17

How did the American Revolution inspire French aristocrats?

+ example

Answer 17

Some idealistic French aristocrats had crossed the Atlantic to enlist in the American forces.
(Eg. Marquis de Lafayette)

Question 18

What was the impact of the troops who served in America and when did they come home?

Answer 18

1783
8000 troops returned home and brought with them renewed ideas of liberty and democracy and the example and experience of overthrowing an existing political authority and building the new order in its place.