Age of Reason Aka The Enlightenment The Enlightenment

Age of Reason Aka The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment 1720 -1820

Key Enlightenment Ideas • • Reasoning instead of tradition Natural laws to govern a nation Natural rights (life, liberty, property, speech, religion, press, tolerance) Revolution if necessary (Locke) Social contract vs. natural rights Representative government Separation of powers (Montesqueiu)

• Absolutism (OLD) • Enlightenment – Tradition – Blind Faith – Ignorance – Intolerance – Illiteracy – Mercantilism – Torture – Censorship – Oppression – Religious – Progress – Reason – Education – Tolerance – Reading – Capitalism – Trial – Freedom – Liberty – Secular

Two Views On Government • John Locke • Thomas Hobbes – 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 – 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

Voltaire • Greatest Idea “I may disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ” – Personal Freedoms • Tolerance for all freedom of religion & freedom of speech

Montesquieu • Greatest Idea – Separation of Powers “Power should be a check to power. ” • 3 Branches of Rule • Best way to protect Liberty • Checks & balances • “Government should be set up so that no man need be

Rousseau • Great IDEA (Problem) – Civilization Corrupts Man • People are good, society is bad – Society destroys freedom, takes away equality • Great Idea (Solution) – General Will (The Social Contract) • Consent of the governed • Direct democracy • Obedience to the will of all • No titles of nobility • Shaped the French Revolution • “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains. ” -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 Revolutions

1775 American Revolution

Reasons For Revolution • French & Indian War 1763 (HUGE DEBT) • England felt colonists should help pay for the war (taxes) • Unpopular Taxes & Trade Restrictions – Stamp Act- on all printed matter (Repealed in 1766) – Townshend Act-on everyday items – Intolerable Act-punishment for T-Party – Navigation Acts- Americans could only sell to Britain

American Revolution Events • The American Revolution – 1770 Boston Massacre & 1773 Boston Tea Party – 1774 1 st Continental Congress (John Adams) • Economic boycott & petitioned the King w/grievances – 1775 Lexington & Concord (Gunfire exchanged) – 1775 2 nd Continental Congress • Continental Army 1775 (George

Declaring Independence • 1776, 2 nd Continental Congress, to declare independence… • Thomas Jefferson (Writer) • Emphasizing – Popular sovereignty – Listed Grievances

U. S. Constitution

The Bill of Rights • A summary list of the rights deemed most important to a people • 1 st Ten Amendments of the U. S. Constitution • Demanded by the Antifederalists to ratify • Enlightenment Ideas into practice

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. Constitution: An Enlightenment Document • Enlightenment Idea • U. S. Constitution – Locke – We the people… – Montesquieu – Federal system – Rousseau – Public elections – Voltaire – Bill of rights – Beccaria – Rights of accused

Democratic Rights & Values “Making life worth living. ” • • Life Liberty Property Right to food Right to work Right to education Freedom of Speech Freedom Press • • Freedom of Religion The right to bear arms The right to assemble Equality before Law Trial by jury of peers Innocent until proven guilty Right to Vote

American Revolution Legacy • 1 st 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 • 1. Old Regime FOR REVOLT – Unfair system, 3 rd 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

The Three Estates 1 st Estate-The Clergy 2 nd Estate-The Nobles • 1% of pop, with 10% of land • 4% of pop, with 20% of the land. 3 rd Estate-Everyone Else §The 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 14 th, 1789 Bastille Prison (Symbol of Old Regime) National Assembly Restored 1 st step in the French Revolution – “Is it a revolt? No, Sire, It is a revolution. ”

National Assembly • National Assembly Restored – One Big Estate Formed – GOAL: “Never to separate and to meet wherever until we have a sound and just Constitution. ”

1791 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and • Guaranteed Citizen Rights Of – Liberty – Property – Security – Revolution – Freedom

The Reign of Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. Terror Robespierre c The Revolutionary Court of Paris alone executed 2, 639 victims in 15 months, 40, 000 total killed by guillotine! --

Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793) • King Louis XVI – Guilty of Treason • Counter-revolution Plan – By one vote – Executed January 21 st, 1793 – France now a

Napoleon Bonaparte • Dictator, then Emperor • Conquered Europe • Spread the Enlightenment • Napoleonic Civil Code

The Influence of the Napoleonic Code 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 TODAY

REMINDE R • 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 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 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