Enlightenment, Scientific Rev., Absolutism & Constitutionalism Vocab Flashcards
(27 cards)
Jean Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778) French writer and Enlightenment philosopher who wrote
a book called, The Social Contract, where he stated that people were basically good, and that
society, and its unequal distribution of wealth, were the cause of most problems. He believed that
the government should be run according to the will of the majority, which he called the General
Will. He claimed that the General Will would always act in the best interest of the people
Johannes Kepler
German astronomer and mathematician who is considered the founder of
celestial mechanics. He was first to accurately describe the elliptical orbits of Earth and the
planets around the Sun and demonstrated that planets move fastest when they are closest to the
Sun. He also established that a planet’s distance from the Sun can be calculated if its period of
revolution is known.
Who was Jean Jacques Rousseau?
A French writer and Enlightenment philosopher who wrote The Social Contract, stating that people were basically good and that society’s unequal distribution of wealth caused most problems. He believed the government should run according to the General Will, which acts in the best interest of the people.
What did Johannes Kepler contribute to astronomy?
He is considered the founder of celestial mechanics, accurately describing the elliptical orbits of Earth and the planets around the Sun, and demonstrating that planets move fastest when closest to the Sun.
What are Natural Rights according to John Locke?
Life, Liberty, and Property. Locke explained that the purpose of government was to protect these rights.
Who was Jules Mazarin?
The Chief Minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XIV, known for advising King Louis XIV and crushing the Fronde Revolts.
What is Laissez faire?
An economic philosophy that advocates for minimal government interference in business and the economy, begun by Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations.
What was the League of Augsburg?
A defensive alliance against French aggression, consisting of the German states, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, England, and Scotland.
Who was Louis XIV?
Known as the Sun King, he was an absolute monarch who completely controlled France and built the palace at Versailles.
Who was Mary Wollstonecraft?
An English writer and advocate of women’s rights, considered one of the earliest voices of feminism. She authored A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792.
What is Mercantilism?
A system where a country accumulates wealth through trade, exporting more than it imports to increase its gold and precious metals.
What are the Natural Rights?
The concept that all people have the right to life, liberty, and property, as stated by John Locke.
Who was Nicholas Copernicus?
A Polish astronomer who theorized that the Earth orbited the Sun, laying the foundations of modern astronomy.
Who were the Parliamentarians?
Supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War who fought against King Charles I of England.
What were the Philosophes?
A group of radical thinkers in France during the eighteenth century who applied reason to various areas of learning, critical of established practices.
What was The Protectorate?
The period from 1653 to 1659 when England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and their territories were governed by a Lord Protector.
What was The Restoration?
The period from 1660 to 1688 when the monarchy was restored and Charles II returned to the throne of England.
Who were the Royalists?
Rich lords and noblemen who supported King Charles I of England during the English Civil War.
What were Salons?
Gatherings organized by women for intellectual discourse, helping to shape and spread Enlightenment ideas.
What is the Scientific Method?
A method of research involving problem identification, data gathering, hypothesis formulation, and testing.
What was the Scientific Revolution?
A revolution in scientific thought in the early 1500s where traditional beliefs about the universe were questioned, leading to the use of the Scientific Method.
Who were the Stuarts of Scotland?
The first kings of the United Kingdom.
Who was Thomas Hobbes?
An English philosopher who wrote Leviathan, advocating for absolute government as a means of balancing human interests and rights.
What was the Treaty of Utrecht?
A peace agreement signed in 1713 between England and France to end a war over the Spanish throne, creating a balance of power in Europe.
