Liberalism and the Challenge to Absolute Monarchy SSWH

Liberalism and the Challenge to Absolute Monarchy SSWH 14: b.

Time and Geography

INTELLECTUAL

The Liberal Creed • Roots of liberalism go back to Reformation • Basic principles: – Liberty of individual in religion and person – Equality of individuals in eyes of God and law

The Liberal Creed • Children of the Enlightenment – Believed in necessity of equality, freedoms – Hated censorship, aristocratic privilege – Against state religion A tree of liberty set up in Mainz in 1793. Such symbols were used by several revolutionary movements of the time.

Liberalism • Did not necessarily believe in equality for all in everything – More the idea of a “level playing field” – Weaker or less talented should be allowed to fail • Reflected general optimism about human nature – Good will eventually triumph – Rational progress was certain – Education was best cure for society’s ills • Thought representative government was most workable, just system • Mistrusted total democracy as potential for “mob rule”

POLITICAL

American Revolutionary War • Colonies were strongholds of liberal thought – Washington, Jefferson, Madison were all liberals – Less fear of popular democracy than back in England Thomas Jefferson George Washington James Madison

American Revolutionary War • Revolutionary war began as tax dispute – Seven Years War was expensive: British government needed new taxes to pay for it – Stamp Act, Navigation Acts were very unpopular – Colonists used to high degree of autonomy, democracy – One thing led to another: April 1775, war began

American Revolution • What did the colonists want? – – “No taxation without representation” More radical group wanted total independence Paine’s Common Sense shows depth of differences Loyalists maltreated, had to emigrate Thomas Paine Original cover to Common Sense

American Revolution • Factors favoring the rebels – Logistic effort to transport, supply army overseas – French aid – fleet and money by Alliance of 1778 – Only half-hearted support of king in Parliament Treaty of Alliance (1778)

Results of the Revolution • Revolution did not change politics, economics, society for most colonists • Real change only after 1783 • Paris treaty recognized thirteen former colonies as a sovereign nation – First major state to have republican form of government (no monarch) – A representative body responsible to the citizenry through the electoral process would exercise lawmaking power – Most citizens could vote, hold office, had freedom of religion, no economic restrictions – That form of government, with those freedoms, was the Revolution

Constitution of 1789 • Conservative approach to social institutions, but liberal with regard to individual freedoms – Wanted system to allow talent, while keeping primacy of the State – Freedom of opportunity, but rejecting political, social equality – Sacred right of property (no attack on slavery) United States Constitution, page 1

Constitution of 1789 • Strongly influenced European opinion – Showed men could create moderate government without monarchy – Received most attention in France – very favorable French Constitution of 1791

REVIEW

Discussion Questions 1. The American Founding Fathers were well-read on the major thinkers of the Enlightenment. What elements of Enlightenment philosophies can you see in the ideas of the American Revolution and its founding documents? What elements, if any, were rejected by Washington, Jefferson, and others? 2. Both British and Spanish American colonies might have had rebellions to separate from their mother countries in the 18 th century, yet it only happened at this point in North America. Why? What was unique about the British colonies and not present in the Spanish colonies? How did these factors influence the potential for revolution at this point in time?