Enlightenment Ideas and the American Revolution The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment… • a philosophical, intellectual, and cultural movement of the 17 th and

The Enlightenment… • applied the Scientific Revolution to human society • believed the use

Thomas Hobbes • Leviathan (1651) • before civilization, human life was: Ø “nasty, brutish,

Thomas Hobbes’ SOCIAL CONTRACT: • people agreed to create gov’t for protection • absolute

John Locke • wrote Two Treatises on Government : “no one ought to harm

John Locke GOVERNMENT must …. (1) protect people's natural rights (2) be limited in

John Locke SOCIAL CONTRACT…. • an agreement between the people and gov’t • If

Montesquieu • The Spirit of the Laws (1748) IDEAS: • a separation of powers:

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Authority lies with the people! • The Social Contract, written in 1762

Impact on the U. S. ? • LOCKE: natural rights part of Decl. of

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Enlightenment Ideas and the American Revolution

The Enlightenment… • a philosophical, intellectual, and cultural movement of the 17 th and 18 th centuries (1600 s and 1700 s) • started in Europe and came later to America

The Enlightenment… • applied the Scientific Revolution to human society • believed the use of reason and scientific method could be used improve society

Thomas Hobbes • Leviathan (1651) • before civilization, human life was: Ø “nasty, brutish, and short” Ø guided by self-preservation -- not by reason and morality

Thomas Hobbes’ SOCIAL CONTRACT: • people agreed to create gov’t for protection • absolute rulers are best way to have an orderly society **Hobbes has a negative view of human nature.

John Locke • wrote Two Treatises on Government : “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. ” • people are born with unalienable NATURAL RIGHTS from God **Locke has a positive view of human nature.

John Locke GOVERNMENT must …. (1) protect people's natural rights (2) be limited in power (3) have the consent of the governed

John Locke SOCIAL CONTRACT…. • an agreement between the people and gov’t • If gov’t. fails to protect people’s natural rights, then people have the right to overthrow it!

Montesquieu • The Spirit of the Laws (1748) IDEAS: • a separation of powers: divide powers between three separate branches of gov’t. -- to protect the people’s liberty • creates checks and balances

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Authority lies with the people! • The Social Contract, written in 1762 – (1) man is born free – (2) controls by a freely formed gov’t. are good – (3) consent to a form of gov’t. means that the individual gives up self-interest in favor of the common good – (4) when gov’t. is by the consent of the governed the people retain their rights

Impact on the U. S. ? • LOCKE: natural rights part of Decl. of Indep. and Constitution …. your rights are “locked-in” • MONTESQUIEU: three branches of gov’t, checks and balances … Mon – te - squieu (3 syllables) • ROUSSEAU: consent of the governed