Age of Revolution

Unit 8.1
(1774 to 1849)
 Famous Philosophers and Revolutions(1774-1849)

• Enlightenment Philosophers
• American Revolution
• French Revolution
• Industrial Revolution
 The Enlightenment Philosophers

• They were basically the thinkers who inspired and influenced

the common people through their writing and revolutionary
ideas. They even presented the structure of government.

• These thinkers felt that they could fix social, political, and
economic problems they saw in Europe, through reasoning.
 Thomas Hobbes
● English Philosopher and Scientist
● Writing: “Leviathan”

He believed that :
● people are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish.
● individuals of the society should give up their natural rights,
in order to create a peaceful society.
● any power exercised by the authority cannot be resisted. 
 John Locke
Known as “Father of Liberalism”

He stated that:
• everyone is equal in state of nature by God
• all individuals have a right to  protect their life, health, liberty
and possessions
• governments that rule without the consent of people should be
overthrown
 Montesquieu

French political Philosopher

• Book: “ Spirit of Law”

He believed that:
• Executive, Legislative, and Judicial functions of government
should be assigned to different bodies.
• each body will check the function of the other two.
 Voltaire

French Enlightenment writer, historian,

and philosopher

Through his writings he fought for:

• religious tolerance
• freedom of thought
• slave trade
• aristocratic-monarchical authority
• injustice and inequality
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Writing : “The Social Contract”

He believed that:
• people should develop good moral character to remain
virtuous even in imperfect society
• the monarch should not be the divine ruler
• only freely elected government should impose the rules on
society