Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the Enlightenment and its impact on America, France, and the Atlantic World. They develop knowledge of the Enlightenment's background and ideas and consider its links to the 'Age of Revolution'.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe Enlightenment ideas concerning science and politics.

Key Notes

• Enlightenment ideas around observation, experience and experiment helped pave the way for greater scientific thought.
• The Enlightened thinkers believed that governments should work for the benefit of the people.
• More people believed in the idea that people should be able to hold their governments to account.
• Some Enlightened thinkers began to question ideas of monopolies and trade, arguing they should benefit all, not a few.
• Some Enlightened thinkers developed racist ideas of European superiority and African inferiority.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Enlightenment: the Enlightenment was a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority
• social contract: a social contract is an agreement that rulers should govern in a way that benefits the people in exchange for having power over them
• monopoly: when one group has total control over an area of business or trade, this is known as a monopoly
• paradox: a paradox is when a statement or idea appears to contradict itself
• colonialism: colonialism involves taking control of another country and taking advantage of its resources and people

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• All Enlightenment thinkers were racist.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Enlightenment ideas and the causes of the French Revolution Study Guide
• The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas Study Guide
• The background to the Enlightenment Study Guide
• The Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution Study Guide
• The impact of the French Revolution in the Atlantic world Study Guide