To Prepare for Enlightenment Press

Conference

Complete the chart of all the absolute rulers and philosophers. You are responsible for all the information.

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The Enlightenment Questioning the Power of

Government and society through REASON

"Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains."

McDowell-Anders

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SOME ABSOLUTE MONARCHS

King JohnBelieved in his divine right to rulebut forced to share power with nobility.

Parliament established under his rule. \Petition of Right- Taxes could not be imposed without parliament’s approval.

★MAGNA CARTA★

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen of England who believed she had divine right to rule.

Did not want to share power by marrying. Considered herself “wedded to her subjects”

Became head of the English Church by making England a Protestant country.

Although ruling as a “limited monarch” (abiding by Magna Carta), viewed herself at the top of the hierarchy of power.

King Louis XIVFrench king who believed he had divine right to rule as an absolute monarch (supported by catholic church)

France had no law limiting the monarch’s power

Built a massive palace called Versailles outside of Paris

Louis XIV

Protestants persecuted. Many fled to Holland and Germany (economy struggles)

Used his control to expand boundaries of France and entered into wars with neighboring territories.

Although powerful at first, this left France weak and in debt

Text

The Sun King’s Palace

Scientific Revolution

In tradition of Scientific Revolution, people began to search for natural laws that dictated human behavior and interaction

Took place from about 1650-1800, starting in England and then spreading to France

Scientific Rev leads to Enlightenment

The philosophes closely examined and wrote about political, economic, and social interactions

Many of these philosophes objected to the luxuries and privileges held by the nobles and clergy

Most saw change as a way to better human life.

Scientific RevolutionDawn of the Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes, British 1709-1714 wrote Leviathan-->

One of the first philosophes

Believed men were inherently evil

In a pre-social world, humans would be engaged in a constant state of war

People need strong, absolute monarch to keep people in check

Social Contract- Ruler will provide security in exchange for freedomsand rights

Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu

John Locke, 1632-1704British- Two Treatises of Government

Had opposite view of human nature from Hobbes

Believed all men are born equal with an innate natural morality

Natural rights- life, liberty,property.

Government gets its authorityfrom the PEOPLE

Greatly influences Jefferson..... USA constitution

John Locke, 1632-1704

Individuals in a pre-social world would co-exist in harmony

One of the greatest influences on democratic thought in the USA!

John Locke’s BeliefsPurpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights – life, liberty, and property

If a government violates the people’s natural rights, it can (and should) be replaced

All men are equal before the law – although not every man is equal

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778French

Viewed primitive man, the noble savage, superior to civilized men

Believed society and culture corrupted men

Social Contract – An agreement exists between all people as to how to act and interact- Ruler is subject to it’s people!

Direct Democracy is the best form of government

Voltaire, 1694-1778French

Most effective leader of a nation was an enlightened despot – he could bring in new ideas, but keep the aristocracy and church under control

Strongly believed that religious toleration, civil rights, and free speech were as essential as a strong monarch.

Cesare Beccaria Italian

Believed that the rights of the accused had to be protectedAdditionally, he strongly advocated against torture, capital punishment, and unequal treatment because of wealth or connectionsHis book, On Crimes and Punishment, was immediately popular among the philosophes and some political leaders

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

French

Wrote about the different types of government, believed a republic was the best form

In order for a government to work efficiently government power should be divided and balanced between three groups

Montesquieu in the US?

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

1.King or executive should enforce laws

2.Parliament or legislature ( or congress in US) should create laws

3.Courts should interpret laws

Separation of powers creates a system of checks and balances

Mary WallstonecraftBelieved that women were just as capable of men.

Women needed to be educated equally and given equal opportunities.

Challenged other enlightened thinkers who discredited women.

Women should mobilize to play a political role.

Thomas Jefferson

Ideal Government:

Independent republic

Democratically governed by an intellectual aristocracy under a strictly construed constitutional system

National government of limited powers

Major emphasis on individual freedom, responsibility and states’ rights.”

Those who took the Enlightenment and

turned it into REVOLUTION

George Washington

Leads the American colonists to fight against their king!

The General gathers a militia and they unite under Washington. Weapons and funds received from France.

After crossing the Delaware River, they have their final battle against the British Red Coats and win.

The founders of the United States (new country!) then gather at Continental Congress

Simon BolivarInfluenced by Enlightenment thinkers through education and trips to Europe

Hoped to unite all of South America into one nation

Very capable general whose victories brought independence to Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, and Bolivia

Most significant leader in the independence movement in South America

Age of Reason

The Salons spread enlightenment ideas of

justice, equality, and rights of the common man.