The development of ideas, beliefs, and religions illustrates how groups in society view themselves, and the interactions of societies and their beliefs often have political, social, and cultural implications.

massive changes occur because of industrial revolution

the enlightenment:

• enlightenment thinking occasioned the social and political changes.
• type of thinking that advocated for the use of reason to reconsider the accepted ideas and social institutions of the time.
• application of human reason to natural law
• EMPIRICISM:
  • idea that reality of discerned through the senses) scientific experiment theory
  • created by Francis Bacon
• JOHN LOCKE
  • divine right of kings is deeply flawed
  • human rights = life, liberty, property
  • human beings & government are in a social contract
  • humans willingly give up power to a government who is willing to protect their natural rights
  • led to growing nationalism, proliferation of constitutional govts
• ADAM SMITH - LAISSEZ FAIRE
  • "wealth of nations" book critiqued mercantilist economies of Europe.
  • laissez faire economics; govt hands off

RELIGION

• new brand of enlightened religion is Deism; god exists creates all things in beginning but doesn't intervene in history

CONSERVATISM

• strong belief in tradition and shunning of ideology in favor of practical ideas

women:

• found power in voices
• Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" — woman can do anything a man can do
• Seneca Falls convention to rally for women's rights

slavery:

• abolishment movement gained steam because of enlightenment