Enlightenment and Colonial Imperialism Vocabulary (WHIST)

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Enlightenment

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An 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, liberty, and scientific thought over tradition.

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Reason

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The use of logic and evidence to make decisions or form beliefs.

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Natural Rights

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Fundamental rights (e.g., life, liberty, property) believed to be inherent to all humans, as proposed by thinkers like John Locke.

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Social Contract

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An agreement between people and their government, where citizens give up some freedoms for protection and order (e.g., Rousseau, Hobbes).

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Liberty

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Freedom from oppressive restrictions, a core Enlightenment value.

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Philosophe

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French term for Enlightenment thinkers who advocated for reason and reform (e.g., Voltaire, Diderot).

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Secularism

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The belief that religion should not dominate government or public life.

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Toleration

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Acceptance of diverse beliefs, especially religious ones, as promoted by Voltaire.

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Imperialism

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A policy of extending a country's power by colonizing or controlling other regions.

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Colony

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A territory controlled by a foreign power, often for economic gain.