Unit 5.1 - The Enlightment Flashcards
Individualism
The belief that emphasizes the value of an individual and their accomplishments
The Enlightenment
An intellectual movement that challenged old sources of authority like the church and emphasized reason and individualism over tradition
Ideals of the Enlightenment
Human reasoning over spiritual teaching, all spiritual problems can be solved using human reasoning, freedom, self-determination, and natural laws (things true of all people)
How did Enlightenment thinkers view God?
They did not deny the existence of God but wanted to bring more emphasis on individuals
Nationalism
A feeling of intense loyalty to others who share one’s language and culture
What did nationalism threaten?
All of Europe’s multiethnic empires
What spheres of life did Enlightenment and Nationalism impact?
Social and political spheres. It impacted political revolution, economic systems, 1st Wave Feminism, and the (Slave) Abolition Movement
New ideas vs. old political structures led to…
revolutions with the goals to gain independence from imperial powers and have representation within the government. It caused breakups of empires and the formation of new governments.
Social Contract
An agreement between a group of people and their government
Empiricism (Francis Bacon)
The belief that knowledge comes from what you sense and observe during experiences and experiments rather than principles taught by tradition/religion
Thomas Hobbe
Enlightenment thinker who believed that people were naturally bleak/bad, their lives were short and nasty, and they should give up some rights (through a social contract) to a strong central government in return for law and order.
John Locke
Enlightenment thinker who believed that it was the responsibility and right of the people to revolt against an unjust government and everyone had a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of property
Tabula Rasa / Blank Slate
A person’s intelligence, personality, and fate are based on their education, not ancestry
Philosophes
Thinkers and writers of the 18th century who explored social, political, and economic theories in new ways, populating the concepts of Enlightenment thinkers
Montesquieu
Influenced the American government/separation of power by praising Britain’s gov. for having a Parliament to keep power in check
Voltaire
Known for his social satire Candide, he influenced the U.S. constitution through ideas of religious liberty that came from his time in England and their civil rights
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Inspired many revolutions through his concept of General Will and a sovereign’s obligation to carry it out
Adam Smith
The father of capitalism
Capitalism
Using the idea “laissez-faire”, which said that the government should stay out of economic decisions, it is an economic system that states that means of production like factories and natural resources are privately owned and operated for profit
Deism
The belief that God created the Earth but then stepped back, not interfering with everything happening in it
Thomas Paine
Popular for his book Common Sense, advocating freedom from Britain during the American Revolution, his support of Deism and anti-church writings lowered it
Medieval scholasticism
Reason used to defend faith through writing and debating
Renaissance humanism
Emphasized human achievements, secularism (separation of religion from the government), and individuals
The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment (what did they emphasize/believe in)
Emphasized the use of data and believed in natural rights, progress, and reason
Conservatism
A belief and reliance on traditional institutions, sources of power, and rules, opposing change
Socialism
An economic and political theory that believed means of production were owned by the public or direct workers
Utopian Socialism
Socialists who believed society would benefit by setting up ideal communities
Henri de Saint-Simon (Utop. Soc.)
believed that if scientists and engineers worked together with businesses, they would be productive and beautiful places to work
Charles Fourier (Utop. Soc.)
Believed that a utopia was living in harmony rather than class struggles
Robert Owen (Utop. Soc.)
Established small societies governed by the principles of utopian socialism
Fabian Society
Socialists who favored changing society through the Parliament
Classical Liberalism
The belief in natural rights, Enlightenment thoughts like a constitutional government, and wanted to purse changes that adapted to changing societies in order to ensure equal representation of all people
Feminism
Inspired by the Enlightenment, the movement for rights and equality for women
Mary Wollstonecraft
A feminist who argued in her work A Vindication of the Rights of Women that women needed to receive the same education as males in order to be successful and independent
In this location, feminists met to promote…
Seneca Falls, New York; to promote women’s rights and suffrage
This feminist declared that men and women were…
Elizabeth Cady Stanton; that all men and women were created equal and they deserved the right to vote, hold office/property, manage their incomes, and be the legal guardians of their children
Abolitionism
The ending of slavery
What was the last country to abolish slavery? Which continued to increase in number of slaves even after the ending of slave trade?
Brazil in 1888; the U.S.
What caused serfdom to decline?
The change in society and economy from an agrarian society to an manufacturing industrial society and peasant revolts
Zionism
the desire of the Jew’s to have a homeland of their own
Anti-Semitism
hostility and harassment towards Jews simply for their religion.
Dreyfus Affair
A case between a Jewish military officer and France due to being accused of treason because of forged documents by people promoting anti-Semitism; brought attention to the problem
Theodor Herzi
An Austro-Hungarian Jew who led the movement to acquire the Jews a homeland (Israel)
