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1543
Nicolaus Copernicus
a Polish astronomer who put forth the theory that the Sun is at rest near the center of the Universe, and that the Earth, spinning on its axis once daily, revolves annually around the Sun. -
Francis Bacon
Bacon devised a method whereby scientists set up experiments to manipulate nature and attempt to prove their hypotheses wrong. -
Galileo Galilei
was a key individual during the Scientific Revolution, although the Church and society were not always in agreement with him. A great part of Galileo's work was challenging the ideas of Aristotle, including his theory about falling objects and his theory that the sun revolves around Earth. -
Rene Descartes
Through his specialty in mathematics, he was able to transform geometrical problems into algebra. -
Isaac Newton
his Law of Universal Gravitation, Three Laws of Motion, and invention of the reflecting telescope -
John Locke
Locke pioneered the ideas of natural law, social contract, religious toleration, and the right to revolution that proved essential to both the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution that followed. -
Montesquieu
Montesquieu's writings help to create a desire for freedom and helped to spark the French Revolution. -
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French author and philosopher of the Enlightenment era. He is best known for his writing and publishing of the Encyclopedia, the world's first book (installed in 28 total volumes) to compile all general human knowledge into one easily accessible and understandable location -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau's theories of sovereignty and law had a direct influence on French revolutionaries such as Robespierre -
Voltaire
Voltaire's ideas ultimately found expression in the French and American revolutions. -
James Watt
His improvements to the steam engine were a significant factor in the Industrial Revolution -
adam smith
He's known primarily for his groundbreaking 1776 book on economics called An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. -
George Washington
his leadership presence and fortitude held the American military together long enough to secure victory at Yorktown and independence for his new nation in 1781. -
Thomas Jefferson
drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
He wrote several successful operas, including The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), and The Magic Flute (1791). -
Maximillien Robespierre
Robespierre briefly presided over the influential Jacobin Club, a political club based in Paris. He also served as president of the National Convention and on the Committee of Public Safety -
Miguel Hidalgo
Hidalgo uttered the cry of Dolores, which put the independence movement in motion. -
Simon Bolivar
South American soldier and statesman who led the revolutions against Spanish rule in New Granada (now Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador), Peru, and Upper Peru (now Bolivia).