Enlightenment

Question 1

What was Enlightenment?

Answer 1

an intellectual movement that spread across Europe in late 1700s with a particularly strong influence in France

Question 2

What did Enlightened thinkers believe?

Answer 2

challenged accepted views about religion, nature & absolute monarchy favouring ideas of freedom, liberty & equality

Question 3

Key philsophes in France

Answer 3

Montesquieu - criticised absolutism & believed aristocracy should limit royal power
Voltaire - criticised Catholic Church but believed religion & royal authority necessary
Rosseau - despotic monarch could be overthrown by people where sovereignty resided
Diderot - Encyclopaedia

Question 4

Related impact of the American Revolution

Answer 4

• another source of ideas challenging Ancien Regime
• many in France sympathetic to colonists’ cause of freedom & democracy
• French troops brought back renewed ideas of liberty & democracy & success of overthrowing political authority

Question 5

How did ideas spread?

Answer 5

• salons: aristocratic hostess invited guests
• Cafes
• Masonic lodges
• growing number of newspapers

Question 6

Why were it’s ideas a threat to the Ancien Regime?

Answer 6

• scientific approach directly challenged Church ideas

- questioned institutions of Ancien Regime but didn’t advocate Revolution