Question

“Never was there a greater contrast, never a more sudden transition than this! A hierarchical system ensured by authority;

life firmly based on dogmatic principle—such were the things held dear by the people of the seventeenth century; but
these—controls, authority, dogma and the like—were the very things that their immediate successors [in the eighteenth
century] loathed.
[People of the seventeenth century] were upholders of Christianity; [people of the eighteenth century] were its foes. The
former believed in the laws of God; the latter in the laws of nature; the former lived in a world composed of unequal
social grades; for the latter, the absorbing dream was equality.
Of course the younger generation are always critical of their elders. They always imagine that the world has only been
waiting for their arrival and intervention to become a better and a happier place. But it needs a great deal more than that . .
. to account for a change so abrupt and so decisive as the change we are now considering. One day, the French people,
almost to a man, were thinking like Bossuet.* The day after, they were thinking like Voltaire. No ordinary swing of the
pendulum, that. It was a revolution.”
*theologian and advocate of political absolutism in the court of Louis XIV
Paul Hazard, French historian, The Crisis of the European Mind: 1680-1715, 1935
1. In your response, be sure to address all parts of the question. Use complete sentences; an outline or bulleted list
alone is not acceptable.
a) Describe one claim made by the author in the passage.
b) Describe one effect of the change described in the passage.
c) Identify one piece of evidence beyond what the author mentions in the passage that would support his argument
regarding the intellectual change between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Answer 1

The passage discusses the stark contrast and sudden transition between the beliefs and values of the people in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the seventeenth century, the people upheld a hierarchical system and lived their lives based on dogmatic principles, while in the eighteenth century, these ideas were rejected. The people of the seventeenth century believed in the authority of God and adhered to Christian principles, while those of the eighteenth century embraced the laws of nature and sought equality.

To support this argument, the author could provide evidence of the shift in thinking and values during this time period. They could cite historical events, writings, or philosophical ideas that demonstrate the rejection of authority and the embrace of natural laws and equality. By presenting concrete examples, the author can strengthen their argument and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the societal changes that occurred.

Answer 2

Paul Hazard's passage claims that the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries experienced a significant intellectual shift towards Enlightenment ideals, resulting in political and social revolutions. The change from a hierarchical and dogmatic society to one valuing reason and equality affected revolutions like the Americans and the French. Evidence such as John Locke's theories on governance and natural rights supports this claim.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage describes a major intellectual shift from the seventeenth to the eighteenth century, highlighting the transition from a world governed by hierarchical systems, authoritarian rule, and dogmatic principles to one valuing reason, natural laws, and egalitarian ideals. This period is recognized as the Enlightenment, a time when established beliefs and social orders were being questioned and reimagined, leading to significant societal transformations.

a) One claim made by the author, Paul Hazard, is that the transition between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries involved a profound shift in thought, from a society grounded in Christianity and hierarchical structures to one that embraced the laws of nature and aspired for equality.

b) One effect of the change described in the passage is the emergence of movements such as the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions, which were influenced by Enlightenment thinking and ultimately overhauled political and economic landscapes.

c) Evidence supporting Hazard's argument about intellectual change could include John Locke's political philosophy, which contradicted the divine right of kings and espoused a government responsible for the protection of natural rights like life, liberty, and property, influencing both European and American revolutionary thought.