Download The Enlightenment - White Plains Public Schools

The Scientific Revolution
encouraged people to think
differently.
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 People began to apply the scientific
method to history, government,
and economics.
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 During the 17th and 18th centuries,
scholars had such confidence in
reason that they believed that they
could use it to free people from
superstition, poverty, and
oppression.
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 The importance of reason to this
period has caused it to become
known as the Enlightenment or the
Age of Reason.
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 People began to ask questions.
They began to criticize the “old
ways”.
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 Paris became the center of the
Enlightenment as French thinkers
discussed ways to improve society.
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 In Paris, wealthy women invited
philosophers to gather in their
homes to discuss new ideas.
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 These meetings were called salons.
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 Philosophers began to discuss
religious toleration and religious
freedom.
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 They began to discuss separation of
powers.
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 They began to discuss individual
rights.
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 Once again, ideas changed world
history.
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 The Age of Reason changed world
history.
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