Inspiring Revolution

By Mr. Casey

Agenda

• Vocabulary• Philosophers and Ideas

Enlighten• (verb) to give someone

great knowledge about a subject

Philosophy• (noun) The study of the

fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence

rights• (noun) a moral or legal

entitlement

The enlightenment• A period of time in Europe (18th

century), sometimes called the “Age of Reason,” when people discussed ideas on science, law, religion, education, and government. People began to question authority and discuss ways they could change society for the better. They took a greater interest in nature and our place in the world.

These ideas would influence our

founding fathers and guide them in the

forming of our constitution.

The Great Awakening

*Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield preach to colonists about questioning authority and thinking for themselves. *This leads them to believe that it is possible to rule themselves. They don’t need to look to a higher power (like the king).

John Locke

Natural LawProposed the idea that all men are born with certain

rights and the government is only needed to protect those

rights. “Life, liberty, and property”

He also believed in freedom of religion

VoltaireBelieved in a right to a fair

trial

Freedom of religion

“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Jean-Jacques RousseauThere should be no

class system: All men are created equal

man is born good, but corrupted by society

Government should serve the people

“People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.”

“Every man having been born free and master of himself, no one else may under any pretext whatever subject him without his consent. To assert that the son of a slave is born a slave is to assert that he is not born a man.”

The Magna Carta

1215*King john signed because he was threatened by wealthy barons*It limited the king’s power. -He could no longer take land or money from people-Fair trials and habeas corpus(can’t be put in jail forever without trial)

The parliament would extend their rights again in 1688 by convincing King

William and Queen Mary to sign a Bill of

Rights (This gave parliament even more

power)

Native Americans

Many native American tribes had a form of democracy and representative leadership