The Impact Of The Enlightenment In France Flashcards
Montesquieu key ideas (3)
Defended the nobility and privilege but questioned the structure of political authority
Expressed his ideas in the Persian letters
Argued there should separation of powers in a state
Voltaire - key ideas (3)
Abandoned his career in law to write against hypocrisy and injustice
In support of toleration, civil rights and the right to a fair trial
Imprisoned in the bastille under lettres de cachet
Rousseau - key ideas (4)
He wrote the social contract in 1762
Argued that ‘Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’ - corrupted by society + politics
Believed gov should protect liberty and ensure equality but decisions should be based on the ‘general will’ of society
The people had the right to overthrow the government that failed to act correctly
Diderot - key ideas (4)
Compiled the encyclopaedia between 1751-1772
Attempted to bring together all human knowledge
Hoped to show how man had mastered the natural world through science and tech
Rejected religion and saw the church as a bar to progress
What was the enlightenment (2)
An intellectual and cultural movement
Stressed the importance of reason, logic, criticism and freedom of thought over faith
Who influenced philosophers (2)
John Locke (1632-1704)
English political philosopher
What was a deists
Accepted the existence of god but criticised organised religion and churches idea of chain of being were the hierarchy of society was divinely ordained
What did philosophers criticise (3)
Church and it’s traditions
‘Divine right’ privileges of the clergy, nobility, guilds and corporations
Emphasis on liberty
How was enlightenment info spread (3)
Coffee houses
Academies
Salons
What is an academie (4)
Clubs for intellectuals interested in political and social matters
Writers, journalist, teachers and artists
Put on lectures, debates and essay competitions
Had reading rooms and libraries
Freemasonry statistics (2)
First lodge founded in France in 1688
By 1744 = 20 in provinces and 20 in Paris
How did salons work (4)
Gatherings took place in homes of influential women
Depended less on social status and more in intellect
Both sexes
Bourgeoisie and nobles exchanged ideas
What did salons do (2)
Broke down social barriers
helped the extension of knowledge
What did poorer do to get enlightenment info (2)
Books were expensive
Novels, plays, journals, newspapers and political pamphlets
Who is Thomas Paine (2)
English political writer = 1737-1809
Emigrated to America
