#AP European History: The Enlightenment - Your Ultimate Study Guide

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP Euro exam with a super-focused review of the Enlightenment. We'll break down the key ideas, people, and connections you need to know. Let's do this!

#The Enlightenment: Core Concepts

The Enlightenment (18th century) was all about reason, science, and individualism. It challenged traditional authority, pushing for new ways of thinking about society, politics, and religion. Think of it as a giant intellectual shake-up! 💡

#Political Theories

#Traditional Political Theories

#Thomas Hobbes

• Core Idea: Humans are naturally selfish and need a strong, authoritarian government to keep order.
• Book: Leviathan (1651)
• Beliefs:

  • Humans are driven by self-interest and the pursuit of power.

  • Without strict rules, society would descend into chaos.

  • Favored an absolutist monarchy with a single, all-powerful ruler.

Image Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

#New Political Theories

#John Locke

• Core Idea: Humans are born with a blank slate (tabula rasa) and are naturally good. 💡
• Beliefs:
  • People learn from experience and are shaped by society.
  • Natural rights of life, liberty, and property are inherent and must be protected by the government.
  • Governments exist to protect these rights, not grant them.
  • Advocated for a constitutional monarchy.

#Voltaire

• Core Idea: Religious tolerance and freedom of thought are essential.
• Book: Letters on the English (praised England's constitutional monarchy and Bill of Rights)
• Beliefs:
  • Religious tolerance should be a natural right, not government-controlled.
  • Advocated for a separation of church and state.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

#Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Core Idea: Society corrupts individuals; the social contract is a necessary evil.
• Beliefs:
  • People reluctantly agree to a social contract to maintain balance and order.
  • Believed in traditional gender roles (men for work, women for home).
  • Argued that society enslaves free men and governments are created to protect them from society.

#Baron de Montesquieu

• Core Idea: Separation of powers and checks and balances are crucial to prevent tyranny.
• Beliefs:
  • Governmental power should be divided among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial).
  • Each branch should have the ability to limit the power of the others.

#Denis Diderot

• Core Idea: Knowledge should be accessible to all.
• Work: Encyclopédie (a compilation of knowledge from various Enlightenment thinkers and fields)
• Beliefs:

  • Organized information to reach a wider audience.

  • Promoted the spread of Enlightenment ideas.

#Women’s Rights

Women played a vital role in the Enlightenment, hosting salons and coffeehouses where ideas were discussed. However, many Enlightenment thinkers didn't fully support women's rights. Some, like Rousseau, believed women were inferior and suited only for domestic duties. Others, like Montesquieu, held traditional views on marriage.

#Early Feminism

#Mary Wollstonecraft

• Core Idea: Women are not naturally inferior but are made so by lack of education and opportunities.
• Book: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) 📚
• Beliefs:
  • Women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, including education, voting, and property ownership.
  • Criticized traditional gender roles and societal expectations of women.
  • Advocated for women to be seen as rational, autonomous individuals.

Image Courtesy of Columbia University

#Economic Theories

#The Rise of Capitalism

#Adam Smith

• Core Idea: Laissez-faire economics and the power of the free market.
• Book: The Wealth of Nations (1776)
• Beliefs:
  • Opposed government regulation of the economy.
  • Capitalism is guided by supply, demand, and competition, which act as an “invisible hand.”

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

#Religious Theories

#Religious Tolerance

• Voltaire advocated for freedom of religion and separation of church and state.
  • Believed in deism, where God is a creator but does not interfere in daily life.

#Religious Skepticism

• Skepticism challenged traditional religious doctrines by demanding proof and questioning the ability to understand the world accurately.
• Thinkers like David Hume and Immanuel Kant questioned the limits of human understanding.

Image Courtesy of Engagewithease

#Final Exam Focus

• High-Priority Topics: Political theories (Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau), women's rights (Wollstonecraft), economic theories (Adam Smith), and the impact of skepticism on religion.

• Common Question Types:

  • Multiple-choice questions on key Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas.
  • Short-answer questions comparing and contrasting different political theories.
  • Free-response questions analyzing the impact of Enlightenment ideas on society and politics.

• Time Management: Quickly identify the main point of each question and focus on the most important details.

• Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse different thinkers or their ideas. Be specific in your answers and use concrete examples.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following Enlightenment thinkers is best known for advocating the concept of separation of powers? (A) John Locke (B) Jean-Jacques Rousseau (C) Baron de Montesquieu (D) Voltaire

2. Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is best known for its advocacy of: (A) Mercantilism (B) Socialism (C) Laissez-faire capitalism (D) Communism

3. Which of the following best describes Mary Wollstonecraft's main argument in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman? (A) Women should focus on domestic duties and raising children. (B) Women are naturally inferior to men and should not seek education. (C) Women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, including education. (D) Women should be subservient to their husbands and fathers.

#Free Response Question

Analyze the ways in which Enlightenment thought influenced political and social reform in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, analytical thesis that addresses the prompt.
  • Example: "Enlightenment ideas significantly influenced political and social reform in Europe by promoting concepts such as natural rights, separation of powers, and social contract theory, which led to challenges against absolutism and calls for greater individual liberties and equality."
• Evidence (2-3 points): Specific historical evidence to support your thesis.
  • Examples:
    • John Locke's concept of natural rights influenced the American and French Revolutions.
    • Montesquieu's ideas on separation of powers were adopted in many constitutional governments.
    • Rousseau's social contract theory fueled revolutionary movements.
    • Mary Wollstonecraft's arguments for women's rights laid the foundation for early feminist movements.
    • The spread of Enlightenment ideas through salons and the Encyclopédie contributed to a more informed public.
• Analysis (2-3 points): Explanation of how the evidence supports the thesis.
  • Examples:
    • Explain how Locke's ideas directly challenged the divine right of kings.
    • Discuss how the separation of powers aimed to prevent tyranny and promote more balanced governance.
    • Analyze how calls for individual liberties led to social and political reforms, such as the abolition of serfdom or the expansion of voting rights.
    • Explain how Wollstonecraft’s work challenged traditional gender roles and expectations.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connect Enlightenment thought to other historical periods or themes.
  • Example: "The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and individualism can be seen as a continuation of the Renaissance's humanistic ideals, and its focus on natural rights and equality laid the groundwork for later social movements, such as the labor movement and the civil rights movement."

#Short Answer Question

1. Briefly explain the concept of "tabula rasa" and how it influenced Enlightenment thought.
2. Contrast the views of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke on the nature of human beings and the role of government.

Good luck! You've got this! 💪