Bellwork

• Please take a copy of “A Gentleman’s ‘Discussion’” from the front and begin reading it. In your notebooks, answer the following question:

What is the difference between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in this reading?

When you are done reading, please put it back. Thanks

American History

Section 6, Unit 1Enlightenment and Revolutionary

Beginnings

Objectives• Identify the changing viewpoints of the role of

government during the Enlightenment• Evaluate the impact of the Enlightenment on

previously held ideals, scientific knowledge, and beliefs in independence– How Enlightened thinkers impacted American

Revolutionaries

Section 6

• We are now in Section 6 in which we are going to discuss American independence from the British.

Quick Review

• In the last lesson, we discussed the removal of the French and Native presence in North America thanks to the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

• Around the same time, changes in Europe began due to the period called the Enlightenment, which would change the European views on government.

Beginnings in Europe• Prior to the Enlightenment, the Scientific

Revolution took hold in Europe.• During this time, such famous thinkers such as

Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, and Johannes Kepler questioned the long held beliefs in Europe that were inspired by famous Greek philosophers, such as Ptolemy, Socrates, and more. – They (dis)proved many theories, including the

geocentric theory of the Earth, the law of gravity, medicine, and even created the scientific method still used today.

The Enlightenment (1700’s)

• The influence of the scientific revolution would spread beyond the scientific world. Philosophers would soon use techniques developed for science (such as reason) to explain the laws governing nature. Philosophers would hope to apply reason to all aspects of life– government, religion, economics, and education.

• These new ideas would created the Enlightenment or Age of Reason.

Views on Government

• The Enlightenment era would inspire two key figures to espouse their viewpoints on the role of the government. – Thomas Hobbes and John Locke both experienced

political turmoil of England during the early 1700’s and both came to two differing views on the role of government.

Thomas Hobbes

• Thomas Hobbes expressed his views by describing the horrors of the English Civil War (the fight in Britain over monarchial rule).

Thomas Hobbes

• The English Civil War convinced Hobbes that people are naturally selfish and wicked and that without governments to keep order there would be “war of every man against every man”.

• He argued that to escape a bleak reality, people must give up their rights to a strong ruler. His belief system is known as the social contract.

Hobbes Social Contract

• Hobbes believed that when people came together and ceded some individual rights (such as giving up the right to kill another person) they would inevitably form a state system--- a system in which individuals agree to laws that, although they take away some rights, also protect humanity.

Hobbes Social Contract

• He also believed that humans act in their own self-interest (i.e. according to what they want).

• With that in mind, a ruler must exist to impose order and demand obedience (such as a king).

John Locke

• Unlike Hobbes, John Locke did not have a dismal view of human nature.

• He believed that people could learn from experience and improve themselves.

John Locke

• He believed that people are reasonable and can self-govern.

• He harshly criticized the concept that a monarchy should rule entirely (although he was in favor of an existing authority)

John Locke’s Natural Rights• Locke argued that all people are born with

three natural rights:– Life– Liberty– Property

• To Locke, government’s role was to protect these rights and, if they failed, it was the citizens role to overthrow the government.

Question: Does Locke’s natural rights sound familiar?

Legacy of Locke and Hobbes

• Locke’s theory had a deep influence on modern political thinking, such as the belief that government rules at the consent of the people.

• His philosophies that people have the right to rebel against unjust rulers inspired struggles for liberty in Europe and the Americas.

• Hobbes, despite his negative views, did still heavily affect governments.

• The belief that people must cede some rights for the benefit of the whole is still in practice to this day (think laws), as modern citizens do give some of their rights so that the nation can be protected.

Philosophes

• The Enlightenment reached it’s height in France in the mid-1700’s. Paris became a meeting place for social critics of the time– the Philosophes (fil-uh-sahfs).

Philosophes

• Philosophes believed that people could apply reason to all aspects of life based on five concepts: reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty. – You don’t need to writes these down yet. We’ll be

going through each one individually.

Reason

• Reason- Enlightened thinkers believe truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking– required the absence of intolerance, bigotry, or prejudice.

Nature

• Nature- nature was good and reasonable, and that there were natural laws of economics and politics

Happiness

• Happiness- people who lived by natures laws were happy and that people should find happiness while they are alive, not live in misery until they attain happiness in the afterlife.

Question: How does this go against earlier Christian medieval viewpoints?

Progress

• Progress- society must progress so that society and humankind that be perfected.

Liberty

• Liberty- people must be free to speak, believe in what they want, trade, and be free to travel. With these freedoms, society could be set free.

Voltaire

• Going by his pen name, Voltaire published more than 70 books of political essays, philosophy, history, fiction, and drama.

Voltaire

• Voltaire often used satire to attack his opponents, and usually targeted the clergy, the aristocracy, and the government.

• He was sent to jail more than once and was exiled to Britain for two years for insulting people within the French court.

Voltaire

• While in Britain, Voltaire began to admire the English government more than the French’s.

• When he returned to Paris, he mocked the laws and customs of France.

• However, his life became in danger when he began to raise doubts about Christianity, which would have made him face another lengthy jail term (both the French King and Catholic Bishops were outraged at him). In 1734, he fled Paris.

Legacy of Voltaire

• Voltaire never stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech.

• Although he made many enemies, he continuously attacked what he viewed as humanities worst enemies: intolerance, prejudice, and superstition.

Question: How do you think Voltaire’s beliefs affected America?

Baron de Montesquieu

• Another influential writer was Montesquieu, who devoted himself to writing about political liberty.

• He argued that Britain had the best government of his time and that what made it so great was the concept of separation of powers.

Separation of Powers• Montesquieu argued that power must be

balanced among different branches of government:– One group executes the laws– One has legislative powers– to make laws– One interprets the laws to see how it applies in

each case.

Baron de Montesquieu

• Although England did not work exactly like this, his book, On the Spirit of Laws, proposed this separation to make sure that no one individual or group gain total control of the government. – Each group much serve as a check on the other

two groups.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

• Another great philosophe, Jean Jacque Rousseau, argued for individual freedom.

• Described as strange, brilliant, and controversial, Rousseau believed that reason, science, and art would improve life for all people.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

• He believed that originally, people were free and equal individuals, but that civilization forced everyone to obey unjust laws and that freedom and equality were destroyed.

• Rousseau believed that the only good government was one formed by the people and guided by the will of society--- direct democracy.

Rousseau • Rousseau also believed in the social contract, but differently that Hobbes.– Hobbes argued that

people make an agreement with the government.

– Rousseau argued that people agree with one another to create a free society and government.

Beccaria

• An Italian philosopher named Cesare Beccaria turned his thoughts to the justice system.

• He believed that laws existed to protect social order, not to avenge crimes.

Beccaria

• He argued against torturing witnesses and suspects, irregular trial proceedings, and cruel punishments.

• He argued that a person accused of a crime should receive a speedy trial and that torture should never be used. – He also opposed capital punishment.

Adam Smith

• Smith, a British philosopher, argued a change outside of the government– in the economy.

• Smith was one of the leading figures of the 18th century and argued in his 1776 book, The Wealth of Nations, that the economy operates best when left to it’s own devices– i.e. with little government intervention. Question: What is mercantilism?

Invisible Hand

• Smith argued that the government must allow free trade– the flow of resources without government regulation.

• He argued that the economy will self-regulate itself without government interference due to a concept called the “invisible hand”– an unseen force that causes firms to produce at a economically beneficial level.

Invisible Hand• In another words, firms

produce without hurting people because if they harm people, they will not sell goods.

• However, if they produce in a way that benefits society, people will buy their goods.

• This self-interest ultimately leads firms to produce in a way that is beneficial for society, even if that’s not their intention.

Individualism and the Economy

• Smith also argued that people must be free to buy and sell as they choose. If people act in their own self-interest (essentially getting what they want), the economy will progress.

• However, Smith did not entirely argue against the role of government, and believed that oversights can occur in the market and that the government must exist to fix these errors.

Impact of the Enlightenment

• The Enlightenment era challenged long-held ideas about society, such as the divine right to rule by monarchs, union of church and state, and unequal social classes.

Impact of the Enlightenment

• Philosophers argued that these new ideas held up to reason and scrutiny.

• It would be the Enlightenment thinkers would inspire both the American and French Revolution and many other revolutionary movements during the 18th century.

Changes-- Progress

• The belief in progress, held by pioneers such as Galileo, Newton, and the philosophes, gave people hope that human reason could solve problems, such as social inequality and education.

Changes-- Secularism• The Enlightenment era inspired a rise of secularism,

or worldly outlooks. • Prior to the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution,

people accepted the mysteries of the universe as a sign from God. However, those mysteries began to unravel as both philosophers and scientists began to solve those mysteries using science and reason.

• As well, the Enlightenment era also allowed critics of Christianity, such as Voltaire, to have a voice and argue that religion needs to stop promoting fear and instead promote tolerance.

Valuing the Individual

• Faith in science and progress lead to a new outcome– the rise of individualism.

• As people began to turn away from the Church and royalty for guidance, they looked to themselves instead.

• Philosophers argued that people should use their own ability to reason to judge right and wrong. They emphasized the importance of the individual.

Questions?

• If you have any questions, please ask now.

Next lesson

• In the next lesson, we are going to discuss the unrest in the colonies towards great Britain

Activity Review

Idea Philosopher Impact

We are going to go through 5 philosophers and name their idea, who said it, and the impact of that idea (modern effect on America).

Natural Rights- Life, Liberty, Property

Locke Fundamental to the Declaration of Independence

Separation of Powers Montesquieu United States has three branches of government

Freedom of thought, expression, and religions

Voltaire Guaranteed First Amendment

Fair Justice- no torture, just laws, fair punishments

Beccaria Guaranteed in the 5th through 8th Amendments

Economic Freedom Smith America currently has a mixed-market society

Video

• Before we continue forward, this video (Tea, Taxes, and the American Revolution) will cover introduce us to the concepts that will later be discussed in future lessons concerning the American Revolution.

Homework Assignment

• Please read “The Colonists have trouble with England” to familiarize yourself with the upcoming lessons.