1. Enlightenment Thought and Popular Culture

1. Enlightenment Thought and Popular Culture a. France and Western Europe b. Applying scientific thought to human society c. Rational laws to describe social/physical behavior c.i. Criminologists – criminals should be rehabilitated c.ii. Political scientists – careful constitutions to govern best c.iii. Economics c.iii.1. Adam Smith – Wealth of Nations c.iii.2. Competition good c.iii.3. Government avoid regulation c.iii.4. Let initiative and market forces work c.iii.5. Denis Diderot – Encyclopedie c.iv. Basic principles of human affairs c.iv.1. Humans good c.iv.2. Educated to be better c.iv.3. Religions that rely on blind faith are bad – attacked Catholic church c.iv.4. Progress possible if people set free c.iv.5. Feminist thinkers c.iv.5.a. Salons c.iv.5.b. Mary Wollstonecracft – new political rights for women c.iv.5.c. Journals written by women for women c.iv.5.d. Men to blame for women’s lowly position c.iv.5.e. Changes in habits/beliefs c.iv.5.e.i. Reading clubs/salons c.iv.5.e.ii. Treat kids nicer c.iv.5.e.ii.1. Less swaddling c.iv.5.e.ii.2. Educational toys/books c.iv.5.e.iii. Love between family members c.iv.5.e.iv. Emotional bond in marriage – what a crazy thought c.iv.5.e.iv.1.Move away from arranged marriages 2. The Age of Revolution a. Forces of Change a.i. Cultural change – change in intellectual thought – Enlightenment a.ii. Political thought – challenged government a.ii.1. Jean-Jacques Rousseau – government based on general will a.ii.2. Gap between leaders and thinkers – this isn’t a good precedent a.ii.3. Also encouraged economic/social change b. New businesspeople challenged old aristocracy b.i. New power structure vs. old economic values c. Population revolution c.i. better border control – kept out those annoying immigrants with disease c.ii. improved nutrition c.iii. Effects c.iii.1. upper class needed to control their position – feel threatened c.iii.2. can’t inherit property > join working class c.iii.3. rapid expansion of domestic manufacturing c.iii.3.a. protoindustrialization – set foundation for future capitalism c.iii.3.a.i. putting out system – capitalism out of your house c.iii.3.a.i.1. run by merchants – materials, work orders, sales c.iii.4. altered behaviors c.iii.4.a. consumer mentality – keeping up with the Joneses c.iii.4.b. premarital sex c.iii.4.c. parents lose control – can’t threaten inheritance anymore c.iii.4.d. defiance of authority 3. The American Revolution a. A Sort of Revolution – change of power from one group of elites to another a.i. Enlightened ideas used to justify switch, desire for political office a.ii. Atlantic coast colonies win a.ii.1. Why? - British blunders + French help a.ii.2. Set up new government – incorporated Enlightened ideas a.ii.2.a. Montesquieu – checks and balances – divided branches a.ii.2.b. Civil liberties – but…kept that thing called slavery a.ii.3. Voting rights