Age of Reason

Aka

The Enlightenment

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment1720-18201720-1820

Key Enlightenment Ideas

• Reasoning instead of traditionReasoning instead of tradition• Natural laws to govern a nationNatural laws to govern a nation•Natural rightsNatural rights (life, liberty, (life, liberty,

property, speech, religion, press, property, speech, religion, press, tolerance)tolerance)

• Revolution if necessary (Locke)Revolution if necessary (Locke)• Social contract vs. natural rightsSocial contract vs. natural rights• Representative governmentRepresentative government• Separation of powers (Montesqueiu)Separation of powers (Montesqueiu)

• EnlightenmentEnlightenment– ProgressProgress– ReasonReason– EducationEducation– ToleranceTolerance– ReadingReading– CapitalismCapitalism– TrialTrial– FreedomFreedom– LibertyLiberty– SecularSecular

• Absolutism (OLD)Absolutism (OLD)– TraditionTradition– Blind FaithBlind Faith– IgnoranceIgnorance– IntoleranceIntolerance– IlliteracyIlliteracy– MercantilismMercantilism– TortureTorture– CensorshipCensorship– OppressionOppression– ReligiousReligious

Two Views On Government• John Locke

– Goal of Government• Protecting natural rights• Natural Rights of life,

liberty, & property• Power from the people

– Role of the People• People are good• Must follow laws,

make progress• Revolution is right if

government fails

• Thomas Hobbes– Goal of Government

• Keep law & order• Prevent civil war• Power from God

– Role of the People• People are bad• Self Preservation • Social Contract

– Give up rights in exchange for law, order, & long life

VoltaireVoltaire•Greatest Greatest IdeaIdea– Personal FreedomsPersonal Freedoms

• Tolerance for all freedom of Tolerance for all freedom of religion & freedom of speech religion & freedom of speech

““I may disagree with I may disagree with what you say but I will what you say but I will defend to the death defend to the death your right to say it.”your right to say it.”

•Greatest IdeaGreatest Idea– Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

•3 Branches of Rule3 Branches of Rule•Best way to protect Best way to protect LibertyLiberty

•Checks & balances Checks & balances • “Government should be set up

so that no man need be afraid of another.”

““Power should be Power should be a check to power.”a check to power.”

MontesquieuMontesquieu

RousseauRousseau• Great IDEA (Problem)Great IDEA (Problem)

– Civilization Corrupts ManCivilization Corrupts Man• People are good, society is bad People are good, society is bad

– Society destroys freedom, Society destroys freedom, takes away equalitytakes away equality

• Great Idea (Solution)Great Idea (Solution)– General Will General Will (The Social (The Social

Contract)Contract)• Consent of the governedConsent of the governed• Direct democracyDirect democracy• Obedience to the will of allObedience to the will of all• No titles of nobilityNo titles of nobility• Shaped the French RevolutionShaped the French Revolution

• ““Man is born free and Man is born free and everywhere he is in everywhere he is in chains.” -Rousseauchains.” -Rousseau

Legacy of The Enlightenment

• Rethinking the structure of society, Power comes from the people, not God

• BLUEPRINT FOR DEMOCRACY…– Revolution if necessary, Separation of powers– Popular sovereignty, Natural rights, Protection

of rights

Review Information

• Locke [1690] Two Treatises on Government • Humans, by nature, had the right to life, liberty

and property • Government was formed to protect these natural

rights • Okay to overthrow a government that did not

protect these • Government power comes from people, not god

Review Information• Voltaire [1700’s] proposed tolerance, freedom of

religion, free speech  • Rousseau [1762] believed the social contract to

be a free agreement among free individuals to create a government that would respond to the people’s will. Government must come from the consent of the governed.  

• Montesquieu [1748]: Believed any person or group would try to increase their power

• Therefore, to keep government under control, liberty best safeguarded by separation of powers: (1) legislative makes laws (2) executive carries out the laws (3) judicial interprets

American & French RevolutionsRevolutions

1775 American Revolution

Reasons For Revolution• French & Indian War 1763 (HUGE DEBT)French & Indian War 1763 (HUGE DEBT)• England felt colonists should help pay for the England felt colonists should help pay for the

war (taxes)war (taxes)• Unpopular Taxes & Trade RestrictionsUnpopular Taxes & Trade Restrictions

– Stamp Act- on all printed matter Stamp Act- on all printed matter (Repealed in 1766)(Repealed in 1766)

– Townshend Act-on everyday itemsTownshend Act-on everyday items– Intolerable Act-punishment for T-PartyIntolerable Act-punishment for T-Party – Navigation Acts- Americans could only Navigation Acts- Americans could only

sell to Britainsell to Britain• American Response: American Response: “No taxation without “No taxation without

representation!”representation!”

American American Revolution EventsRevolution Events•The American RevolutionThe American Revolution– 1770 Boston Massacre & 1773 Boston Tea 1770 Boston Massacre & 1773 Boston Tea

PartyParty– 1774 11774 1stst Continental Congress (John Adams) Continental Congress (John Adams)

•Economic boycott & petitioned the King Economic boycott & petitioned the King w/grievancesw/grievances

– 1775 Lexington & Concord (Gunfire exchanged)1775 Lexington & Concord (Gunfire exchanged)– 1775 21775 2ndnd Continental Congress Continental Congress

•Continental Army 1775 (George Washington)Continental Army 1775 (George Washington)•Declaration of Independence 1776, Declaration of Independence 1776, •British Surrender at Yorktown 1781British Surrender at Yorktown 1781•Articles of Confederation 1781, Articles of Confederation 1781, Constitution 1787Constitution 1787

Declaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence• 1776, 21776, 2ndnd Continental Continental

Congress, to declare Congress, to declare independence…independence…

• Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (Writer)(Writer)

• EmphasizingEmphasizing– Popular sovereigntyPopular sovereignty– Listed GrievancesListed Grievances– A new GovernmentA new Government– Protection of rightsProtection of rights

U.S. Constitutio

n

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

• A summary list of the A summary list of the rights deemed most rights deemed most important to a peopleimportant to a people

• 11stst Ten Amendments of the Ten Amendments of the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

• Demanded by the Anti-Demanded by the Anti-federalists to ratifyfederalists to ratify

• Enlightenment Ideas into Enlightenment Ideas into practicepractice

American Revolution• Enlightenment ideas affected the British colonists • The colonists helped the British gain control of Americas from the French, then the British

government increased the taxes & other controls over the colonists; the colonists protested • the colonists organize and arm themselves against the British oppression. • The American Revolution begins in April 1775 • The Declaration of Independence issued July 4, 1776 • British surrender in 1781 • For several years, the new government was just a loose union & too weak to be effective • In 1787, a group of American leaders come together to find if it is possible to have a

government that is strong and stable, but not tyrannical • They seek to create a system where power and responsibility is balanced • A representative government [indirect democracy] • Federal system where powers are divided between a central and a state [local] government • Separated powers into three branches, each with checks and balances over the other

U.S. U.S. Constitution:Constitution:An Enlightenment An Enlightenment

DocumentDocument• Enlightenment IdeaEnlightenment Idea

– LockeLocke

– MontesquieuMontesquieu

– RousseauRousseau

– VoltaireVoltaire

– BeccariaBeccaria

• U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

– We the people…We the people…

– Federal systemFederal system

– Public electionsPublic elections

– Bill of rightsBill of rights

– Rights of accusedRights of accused

Democratic Rights & ValuesDemocratic Rights & Values “Making life worth living.”“Making life worth living.”

• LifeLife• LibertyLiberty• PropertyProperty• Right to foodRight to food• Right to workRight to work• Right to educationRight to education• Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech• Freedom PressFreedom Press

• Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion• The right to bear armsThe right to bear arms• The right to assembleThe right to assemble• Equality before LawEquality before Law• Trial by jury of peersTrial by jury of peers• Innocent until proven guiltyInnocent until proven guilty• Right to VoteRight to Vote

American Revolution Legacy• 1st nation to REVOLUTION

– It’s possible to overthrow the government!

• 1787 U.S. Constitution– Rule of Law

• Federal Republic– National & State Governments

French Revolution

REASONS FOR REVOLT• 1. Old Regime

– Unfair system, 3rd Estate always outvoted, No Democracy, Unfair taxes, unfair laws, social inequality

• 2. Burden of Debt– France is deeply in debt from Wars, lavish court

expenses, deficit spending, interest payment, & exemptions

• 3. Poor Harvests– Bad harvests sent food prices soaring (supply &

demand), hunger to millions, bread riots broke out, angry citizens

• 4. Failure to Reform– King Louis XIV & XV pursued pleasure before business

& ran up more debts, Necker ideas rejected, Estates General called

The Three Estates2nd Estate-The Nobles•4% of pop, with 20% of the land.

1st Estate-The Clergy•1% of pop, with 10% of land

3rd Estate-Everyone ElseThe Bourgeoisie 10% of the pop. with 30% of Land. (wealthy merchants, bankers, large landowners, artisans)

The Small Farmers 75% of pop. with 40% of the land.

The Proletariat 10% of pop. with 0% of the land. (unskilled workers.)

Estates General• First time in 175 years• Delegates from each Estate• The Answer to the French problems

Storming the Bastille• July 14th, 1789• Bastille Prison (Symbol of Old Regime)• National Assembly Restored• 1st step in the French Revolution

–“Is it a revolt? No, Sire, It is a revolution.”

National Assembly•National Assembly RestoredNational Assembly Restored–One Big Estate FormedOne Big Estate Formed–GOAL: “Never to separate and GOAL: “Never to separate and

to meet wherever until we have to meet wherever until we have a sound and just Constitution.” a sound and just Constitution.”

1791 The 1791 The Declaration of Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of

Man and CitizenMan and Citizen• Guaranteed Rights Of– LibertyLiberty– PropertyProperty– SecuritySecurity– RevolutionRevolution– FreedomFreedom

The Reign of The Reign of TerrorTerrorTerror is nothing other than Terror is nothing other than

justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre-- Robespierrec The Revolutionary Court of The Revolutionary Court of

Paris alone executed Paris alone executed 2,639 victims in 15 2,639 victims in 15 months, 40,000 total killed months, 40,000 total killed by guillotine!by guillotine!

Louis XVI’s Head Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, (January 21, 1793)1793)

•King Louis XVIKing Louis XVI– Guilty of Treason

•Counter-revolution Plan

– By one vote– Executed January 21st,

1793– France now a Republic

Napoleon Bonaparte• Dictator, then

Emperor• Conquered Europe• Spread the

Enlightenment• Napoleonic Civil Code

The Influence of the Napoleonic Code

The Influence of the Napoleonic Code

Wherever it was implemented [in the conquered territories], the Code Napoleon swept away feudal

property relations.

Wherever it was implemented [in the conquered territories], the Code Napoleon swept away feudal

property relations.

French Revolution Legacy• Inspired by Enlightenment Ideas, the American

Revolution, wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man, Reign of terror lesson, Napoleonic Code spread freedom all over…

Struggle For Democracy

TODAYTODAY

REMINDER• 123 of the 195 nations of the World (63%)

– In 1970, only 40 nations, 2002 120 nations

• Today in 2011 123 nations!• 63% Democratic, 24% Authoritarian, 8%

Limited Democracy, 5% Traditional Democracy

Why democracy is hard to achieve?• Rule of law, not of men

• Protection of civil rights & liberties

• Tolerance of dissent• Acceptance of majority decision by minority

Lessons From History•England Teaches–That Power ultimately belongs to the People

•America Teaches–Both State & National Government are necessary

•France Teaches–Democracy can turn into TERROR & DICTATORSHIP

•Democracy is on ongoing process of change and reforms…there are no guarantees, we all must be watchful, and that its strength always comes from THE PEOPLE…

United Nations Legacy• United Nations

– Formed In 1948

• General Assembly– Every nation represented

• Democratic Ideology – Human Rights, Rule Of Law, Progress

• Universal Declaration Of Human Rights– International Code of Conduct

Democracy EssentialsDemocracy Essentials• 1. Free Elections

– More than one political party

• 2. Citizen Participation– Education, Economy, Freedoms

• 3. Majority rule, minority rights– Equality, Nationalism, Protection

• 4. Constitutional Government– Rule of law, no one is above the law