Enlightenment Democratic Revolutions 92811 The Enlightenment Context focus

Enlightenment & Democratic Revolutions 9/28/11

The Enlightenment Context: focus on the individual & Age of Exploration Enlightenment Ideas: Enlightenment: intellectual movement of the 17 th-18 th centuries focused on the individual and logic/reason. Influences on Democracy Greece influence: natural laws Christianity: Equality of man => equal rights Scientific Revolution 16 th -17 th centuries Reason instead of traditional beliefs Isaac Newton – mechanical laws govern the universe makes people want natural laws to govern society.

Hobbes & Locke Review your philosophes sheets Hobbes People naturally selfish and ambitious Government – social contract between king and people Submit to authority in exchange for protection Locke People naturally good & just Government: by & for the people – only to protect individual rights. Natural Rights: life, liberty, and property.

Voltaire & Rousseau Voltaire: review your philosophes sheet Tolerance, free speech, freedom of religion Targeted the French gov’t & Christianity Rousseau: Review your philosophes sheet Social Contract: agreement between free individuals to create their own government = DEMOCRACY!

Montesquieu Review philosophes sheet Liberty protected by separation of powers 3 branch government Legislative – make laws Executive – enforce laws Judicial – interpret laws

Democracy in America Context: French & Indian War against France leaves Britain & colonies in debt. Americans Protest British Policies Tax: to pay war debt “taxation without representation” in Parliament Western Expansion: Britain stopped settlements beyond the Appalachian Mountains.

Democracy in America Continued Americans Win Independence Lexington & Concord – 1775 – first battles Britain surrenders in 1781 Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776 John Locke’s idea – gov’t by the people for the people & natural rights of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. Articles of Confederation – loose federation of states Weak central government can’t tax to pay war debts or run government Constitution 1787 – Republic – representative gov’t – power in the hands of the people Federal System – balance power between states & federal gov’t