The Enlightenment: Influencers

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Time period in Europe during the 17th & 18th Centuries when Philosophers began applying the concept of reason to the political environment and challenged absolutism (unlimited government).

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Enlightenment

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An Unlimited Government where the king or queen have unlimited power

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Absolute Monarchy

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Philosopher who believed in natural rights and a social contract in order to have government. Believed the job of government was to protect peoples’ natural rights.

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Locke

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Locke's natural rights. Everyone is born with these: Life, liberty, property, Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, money, cars, houses, work, religion, freedom

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Life, liberty, property

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The concept that people have to agree to be governed. If the government fails to protect their rights, people can revolt and abolish the government.

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Social Contract

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Philosopher who believed that government should have separation of powers and checks and balances.

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Montesquieu

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Dividing power between different branches. Each branch as a separate job, and no one branch becomes too powerful.

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Separation of powers

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The ability of branches of government to limit the power of other branches.

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Checks and Balances

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The belief that the government should not support one religion over any other. Increases the freedom of religion.

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Separation of Church and state

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Enlightened thinkers believed that _____ could lead them to the truth.

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reason