Unit 5: Topic 1 - The Enlightenment

Question 1

John Locke

Answer 1

Wrote Two Treatises of Government; Natural Rights & Social Contract. Locke strongly believed that humans had natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Question 2

Separation of Powers

Answer 2

The idea of splitting the government into different bodies, so that each one can keep the other ones in check, ensuring that power is not concentrated in a particular body.

Question 3

Nationalism

Answer 3

The idea that one should identify and strongly support one’s own country while excluding other countries.

Question 4

Suffrage

Answer 4

The right to vote in political elections.

Question 5

Mary Wollstonecraft

Answer 5

Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792).

Question 6

Seneca Falls Convention

Answer 6

The first women’s rights convention (Jul 19, 1848 – Jul 20, 1848). Widely regarded as one of the first steps in achieving women’s rights in America and the birthplace of American feminism.

Question 7

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Answer 7

One of the leaders of the women’s rights and suffrage movements in America. The first woman to organize the first Woman’s Rights Convention.

Question 8

Lucretia Mott

Answer 8

An early feminist and abolitionist. First president of the American Equal Rights Association, whose main goal was to achieve equality for African Americans and women.

Question 9

Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen

Answer 9

Written on 14 September 1791 by Olympe de Gouges in response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. As a result of her writings she would be executed. The book outlined basic rights that a woman should have.

Question 10

Olympe de Gouges

Answer 10

French playwright and political activist and a strong believer in more women rights. Wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen. Executed for her political beliefs.

Question 11

Denis Diderot

Answer 11

French philosopher who published the book “Encyclopédie” containing many Enlightenment thoughts. Prosecuted by the Government for writing anti-Church thoughts.

Question 12

Voltaire

Answer 12

French Enlightenment writer who advocated for freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of the church and state. His Magnum Opus, a short novel named “Candid” criticizes many thinkers of his time.

Question 13

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Answer 13

Gevevan philosopher who influenced the Age of Enlightment and helped develop political, economic, and educational thought. His famous books “Discourse on Inequality” and “The Social Contract”. He argued that monarchs do not have divine right to rule, that right is given to the people.

Question 14

Baron Montesquieu

Answer 14

French philosopher who came up with the theory of Separation of Powers, which is implemented in many governments including the USA.

Question 15

Emannuel Kant

Answer 15

German philosopher who believed that perpetual peace could happen through an universal democracy and cooperation. Believed that reasoning led to morality.

Question 16

Enlightenment

Answer 16

An intellectual movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason to reconsider the accepted ideas and social institutions of the time. Instead of blindly following what the church said, people used reasoning to rethink common beliefs they were told. They applied human reasoning to natural laws.

Question 17

Reason

Answer 17

Using logic to think, understand, and form coherent thoughts.

Question 18

Philosophes

Answer 18

The intellectuals of the 18th century. They strongly believed in tolerance and progress and did not like standardized religions. Many contributed to Diderot’s Encyclopédie but faded away after the French Revolution became violent.

Question 19

Leviathan

Answer 19

A book written by Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes claimed that there should be a “social contract” and a civil war can only be avoided by a strong undivided government. To Hobbes, the social contract was an agreement between the citizens and a sovereign. Locke believed that that natural rights of citizens should limit the power of a sovereign.

Question 20

Natural Rights

Answer 20

Principles and norms to which every human is entitled. In other words, they cannot be taken away by laws or customs by any government.

Question 21

Social Contract

Answer 21

The thought that every citizen lives under a “contract” or an agreement that establishes moral, social, and political rules of behavior. The government in return has to keep order to the citizens.

Question 22

State of Nature

Answer 22

Before the start of political authority. Locke regarded this state as having total freedom and equality.

Question 23

Empiricism

Answer 23

Coined by Sir Francis Bacon, who claimed that human knowledge comes directly from our senses.

Question 24

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 24

An English Philosopher known for his political theories. Believed in the Social Contract.

Question 25

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 25

3rd President of the United States. Belived in natural rights and thought that the government should not infringe on the liberties of citizens.

Question 26

Declaration of Independence

Answer 26

The document that announced America’s independence from Britain. It claimed that a good government protects the rights of its citizens, and the British government failed to do so. Scholars believe that Thomas Jefferson based many of his ideas off of John Locke.

Question 27

Abolitionism

Answer 27

The movement to end slavery.

Question 28

Francis Bacon

Answer 28

Influential member of the Scientific Revolution. Known for Empiricism.

Question 29

Deism

Answer 29

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that believed a higher being existed but would not intefere with humankind. This idealogy appealed to Enlightenment thinkers because of its Enlightenment principles.

Question 30

Vindication of the Rights of Women

Answer 30

Written by Mary Wollstonecraft, it was one of the first books about feminism. Mary believed that women and men should have equal rights in work, education, and politiics. She strongly believed that women should be able to go to universities - being educated would allow women to support themselves instead of relying on men.

Question 31

Declaration of Sentiments

Answer 31

Signed at the Seneca Falls Convention, the Declaration of Sentiments stated that men and women are created equal. If women were denied these rights, they would fight for it.

Question 32

Persian Letters

Answer 32

A literary work written by Montesquieu that told the account of two fictional noblemen under the rule of Louis XIV. This book critiqued the political and religious state of France due to how France was transitioning between an absolute monarchy and the freedom and ideas of the Enlightenment..