The Enlightenment
Sara Lawrence and Matthew Swift
Part 1 - The Major Ideas
Natural Laws
The belief that people had to act a certain way, that god determined that there are certain things people just can't do (sort of like the general "morality" of people's choices).
Natural Rights Of An Individual
Life, Liberty, and Property, the belief that everyone had god-given rights and that no one could take these away no matter what. The government was considered to make sure that everyone had these rights, and if the government failed to do so, the people could overthrow it
Heliocentric Theory
Unlike the Geocentric Theory, this is the idea that he Earth is NOT the center of the universe, but it revolves around the sun instead (this theory also led to the conclusion that EVERYTHING in the universe has some gravitational pull)
Separation Of Powers
A system where the government needs to be separated to equal parts that each have some rule but cannot rule without the other parts, and they all ultimately take checks on each other.
Part Two - Person Of Interest
John Locke
He was a Philosopher and Physician, who came up with the natural human rights (life, liberty, and property). He also strongly believed that people could learn from their mistakes. He believed that the government should protect the natural rights of the people, but if they didn't then the people would have the right to overthrow the government. He was considered the most influential thinker of the Enlightenment.
Part 2A - Other Important People
Isaac Newton
Discovered Gravity because of an apple
Thomas Hobbes
Came up with the Social Contract
Banana Man
._.
Part Three - How The Government Changed
During the Enlightenment, the government changed through, influences of philosophy and science, leading up to major events in history such as the American revolution. Also, the government went from an absolute rule to Separation Of Power, and the recognition of the individual's ability. The Government, in a sense, opened its eyes to the new ideas both leading up to and following the Enlightenment.