AP Euro Enlightenment Recap

Philosophes- usually elite, upper class

A) 5 Main Ideas

-Human ability to analyze the world without any humanistic elements of the past

-Use reason to understand science and natural laws

-Happiness for future in the supernal world as being anti-materialistic

-Human Progress- society is constantly changing    -Freedoms of speech, press, trade, travel, etc.

B) The Philosophes 

-Voltaire- Candide criticizes society; censorship; organized religion created by the people

-Montesquieu- Spirit of the Laws; success in England’s government; checks and balance system

-Diderot- wrote Encyclopedia about all aspects of society in scientific manner

-Smith- capitalism/laissez faire economy without government interference

-Rousseau- Social Contract- Gov. can’t take away rights; social contract that monarch must protect the rights of the people (life, liberty, property), right to rebel; new educational theories

-Condorcet- increased women’s rights, argues for constitutionalism

Political- Enlightened Despots

-Joseph II- abolishes serfdom, gives power of taxation to aristocrats, religious tolerance while limiting the power of the Catholic Church

-Frederick the Great- followed Voltaire, new reforms about education and industry; freed the serfs, religiously tolerant

-Catherine the Great- followed Voltaire and Diderot’ brought French culture to Russia; revised and codified Russian law, yet most Enlightenment reforms failed

-Louis XV- get rid of Jansenists; abolishes Parlement, forced to bring back to gain support

Social/Religious

A) Salons- organized gatherings of women sparking intellectual life outside universities

-Purpose- fought for rights of women and allowed them to argue politics

-EX. Salon of Madame Geoffrin, Mary Wollstonecraft writes Vindication of the Rights of Women

B) Religious-Countries become more religiously tolerant- ex. Austria and Prussia

-France- Louis XV bans Jansenists through papal bull

C) Social classes- France’s Parlement (nobles gaining power) and abolishing serfdom in Europe

Military- Wars of Enlightenment

1) War of the Spanish Succession

-Cause- Charles II of Spain makes nephew (Phillip III) heir while also being heir to France

-Countries fight to balance power

-Treaty of Utrecht (1713)- France and Spain stay separate, other land acquisitions

2) War of Austrian Succession

-Cause- Maria Therese becomes chosen heiress

-Pragmatic Sanction of 1713- allows women to take throne in Habsburg lands

-Frederick of Prussia invades, takes power, takes over Silesia, Austria

-Peace of Aix-La-Chapelle (1748)- Maria Theresa now queen, husband Francis becomes HRE