“All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.”

-John Locke, Two Treatises of Government (1690)

Warm up

In your own words, express what this quote means.

A Time of New Ideas 

The Enlightenment was a period of time when people developed new ideas about human existence, including peoples’ basic rights and the level of control they should have over their government and their futures. 

The Enlightenment began in Europe around 1715.

 People  gathered in salons to discuss philosophy and ways to improve the human experience. Salons were places where philosophers would gather, not beauty salons.

Many of their ideas were based in science and reason, which is why this time was also called the Age of Reason.

Natural Rights 

Enlightenment thinkers believed that human beings are born with fundamental, basic rights. These are called natural rights and included the right to life, liberty(freedom), property, and the freedom to find happiness. 

In order for people to enjoy these natural rights, other rights needed to be protected. Enlightenment thinkers believed people should have the right to express themselves, to move around freely, and to petition(protest against) the government.

The Social Contract

 If there was no government at all, people would live in a state of nature with no rules and complete freedom—but without any protection from each other. One Enlightenment idea was the social contract: citizens give up some freedom they would have in a state of nature (like the freedom to rob and kill people), and in exchange the government protects citizens’ right to life, liberty, and property. 

To Enlightenment thinkers, the relationship between a government and its citizens was like an agreement. Citizens agree to obey a set of rules, and the government agrees to protect citizens’ rights.

Consent of the Governed

 Enlightenment thinkers believed that governments had a responsibility to hold up their end of the social contract. If a government failed, then citizens would no longer agree to be governed and they would have the right to revolt. This idea is known as consent of the governed.

Before the Elightenment, a government protected citizens from foreign invaders, but the government also had absolute authority over the people. A king ruled his citizens whether they consented or not. This is called absolutism.  They believed in the Divine Right of Kings stating that God gave them the right to rule and no one could question that fact.To Enlightenment thinkers, this was unacceptable.

 1. If the government fails to protect citizens, citizens have the right to revolt. _________________

 2. A period of time when people developed new ideas about human existence and human rights. _______________________

3. An agreement where citizens give up some rights in exchange for government protection. ____________________

4. Continent where the Enlightenment began. __________________

5. Fundamental, basic rights people are born with. ________________________

6. The time when kings had total authority over citizens. __________________

7. What century did the Enlightenment take place? ________________

8. Where did philosophers gather to discuss these new ideas?______

9. God gave kings the right to rule and no one can question it_______________

10. No rules, no government and complete freedom.____________________________