Scientific Revolution DBQ

Europe’s time periods worked together like a domino effect. Time periods like the Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment all were an extension of each other. The Scientific revolution used reason and logic to explain certain planetary motion and much else and philosophers from the enlightenment wanted to incorporate these same tactics. Philosophers agreed on each other’s thinking like natural rights and consent if the governed, however some did not have the same thought. They disagreed on topic like women rights and the type of government the people should have. Not only did philosophers seek change, but most of their thinking challenged previous thinking, as well as the Scientific Revolution. Undoubtable,

Some were different, however they were very much similar. One of the many ideas were that the people created the government and also that all men have their natural rights. . John Locke included that all men have natural rights: life, liberty, and property. (Doc 1) This idea then influenced a well-known president: Thomas Jefferson. When the thirteen colonies fought to gain their independence from Great Britain, he used John Locke’s ideas to justify the war. (Pg. 641) Not only did Thomas Jefferson use Locke’s idea to justify the American Revolution, he also included it in the Declaration of Independence, which was written in July of 1776. The only difference is that Thomas Jefferson, instead of property, he used “pursuit of happiness”. John Locke did not only believe in a men’s natural rights, he also believed that it was the government’s duty to protect these rights, and that it’s power comes from the people. In any case of failure to protect the rights, the people were in their complete right to overthrow the government (Doc 2 & Pg. 630) In agreement, Rousseau believed that the government’s power also comes from the consent of the people, which he included in his book, The Social Contract. (Pg. 632) Rousseau included much more ideas that incorporated political aspects, but he also his thought about

Philosopher Rousseau disagreed that power came from the king, but rather it comes from the people. He believed, “The people, being subject to the laws, ought to be their author” (Doc 5) Kings would input laws, with really no consent others, and during the enlightenment that idea was changed. Not only was the idea of divine right challenged in many ways, but also freedoms. During the Age of Absolutism, many were not able to express their opinion, nor be able to express their opinions. Because of the Reformation, many religious wars were occurring, and monarchs like Philip II “… believed that it was his duty to defend Catholicism against the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe.” (Pg. 591) Philosopher Voltaire argued for many freedoms. Many of them included the freedom of religion, he said, “… Christians should tolerate each other” (Doc 7). He also fought for other rights as well, Voltaire also fought for freedom of speech and press. These rights contradicted the absolute power of a monarch because many monarchs would punish their subjects if somehow they would say something they wouldn’t