Enlightenment Dbq

Just imagine having no women’s rights, an over controlling government, someone telling you what to buy and where to buy it, and religious intolerance. Before the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, these were the norms. During the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, educated thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft, John Locke, Adam Smith, and Voltaire questioned the standards of society. These educated thinkers were called philosophers because they believed in bettering their communities by understanding human nature. The Enlightenment promoted freedom for all people and encouraged them to question the social criteria for women, government, economics, and religion through natural rights and a social contract. One philosopher, Mary Wollstonecraft,

Locke wanted to give more freedom to the people of the country, rather than the government. He believed if the people worked diligently to obey the laws and respect the government, they should be able to create their own government if it fails. He writes in Social Treatise on Civil Government, “When the government is dissolved, the people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative.” He wants to inform the citizens that they have the right to prevent a failed government by any means possible. John Locke’s main ideas revolved around the idea of political freedom for citizens to better their

Before the Age of Reason, people were told what to buy and where to buy it. A philosopher, Adam Smith, believed that if individuals went about their everyday lives and bought what they wanted, where they wanted, it would better society as a whole. He writes in The Wealth of Nations, “By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectively than when he really intends to promote it.” Smith believes that by letting citizens purchase what they want, they are contributing to society, without realizing it. Because citizens are allowed to buy what they want, companies are able to take notes on how to improve their product to be bought more. Finally, another issue addressed was religious intolerance. Philosopher, Voltaire, explained that if a country only has one religion, the country would become biased against all other religions. He also mentioned that if there were only two religions, the country would favor one over the other and force the others out. Voltaire writes in Letters Concerning the English Nation, “As there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace.” He believes that to solve religious conflict, there must be many religions in one nation. This will cause religious tolerance and happy