enlightenment thinkers influences on the us constitution

25
Enlightenment Enlightenment Thinkers Thinkers Influences on the US Influences on the US Constitution Constitution

Upload: pablo-somers

Post on 30-Mar-2015

222 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Enlightenment Enlightenment ThinkersThinkers

Influences on the US Influences on the US ConstitutionConstitution

Page 2: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Think about it….what Think about it….what does he mean by this?does he mean by this?

The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries. James Madison

Page 3: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

EnlightenmentEnlightenment

An intellectual movement of the 17An intellectual movement of the 17thth and 18and 18thth centuries (1600-1799) centuries (1600-1799) marked by a celebration of the marked by a celebration of the powers of human reason, a keen powers of human reason, a keen interest in science, the promotion of interest in science, the promotion of religious toleration, and a desire to religious toleration, and a desire to construct government free of construct government free of tyranny. –(Hirsch 226)tyranny. –(Hirsch 226)

Page 4: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Relationship to Scientific Relationship to Scientific RevolutionRevolution

During the Scientific Revolution During the Scientific Revolution 1500-1600’s people began to look at 1500-1600’s people began to look at the physical world differently.the physical world differently.

Why not use reason discover laws of Why not use reason discover laws of human nature or NATURAL LAWShuman nature or NATURAL LAWS

Page 5: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Natural LawNatural Law

The doctrine that human affairs The doctrine that human affairs should be governed by ethical should be governed by ethical principles that are part of the very principles that are part of the very nature of things and that can be nature of things and that can be understood by reason. (Hirsch 102)understood by reason. (Hirsch 102)

Page 6: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Wrote LeviathanWrote Leviathan Pessimistic view of peoplePessimistic view of people People were naturally cruel, greedy People were naturally cruel, greedy

and selfish.and selfish. Without laws to control people, life Without laws to control people, life

would be “nasty, brutish and short.”would be “nasty, brutish and short.”

Page 7: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Hobbes and the Social Hobbes and the Social ContractContract

People enter into a contract with a People enter into a contract with a strong governmentstrong government

People give up some of their natural People give up some of their natural rights in order to ensure an orderly rights in order to ensure an orderly societysociety

Hobbes believed an absolute Hobbes believed an absolute monarchy could force order and monarchy could force order and obedienceobedience

Page 8: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

John LockeJohn Locke

1717thth century English philosopher. century English philosopher. Locke argued against the belief that Locke argued against the belief that human beings are born with certain human beings are born with certain ideas already in their minds.ideas already in their minds.

Argued that governments depend on Argued that governments depend on the consent of the governedthe consent of the governed

Influenced Thomas Jefferson’s Influenced Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of writing of the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Page 9: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

John LockeJohn Locke More optimistic than HobbesMore optimistic than Hobbes Believed people are reasonable and moralBelieved people are reasonable and moral Believed in Natural Rights that belonged Believed in Natural Rights that belonged

to all humans at birthto all humans at birth Life, Liberty and Property/Jefferson wrote Life, Liberty and Property/Jefferson wrote

about “life, liberty and pursuit of about “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”happiness”

Wrote Two Treatises of GovernmentWrote Two Treatises of Government Best government was limited and Best government was limited and

accepted by all citizensaccepted by all citizens

Page 10: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Locke’s Obligations of Locke’s Obligations of GovernmentGovernment Locke felt governments were obligated to Locke felt governments were obligated to

the people they governedthe people they governed If they violated their obligations THE If they violated their obligations THE

PEOPLE HAD A RIGHT TO OVERTHROW PEOPLE HAD A RIGHT TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNEMNT—THE GOVERNEMNT—

This concept is the justification for our This concept is the justification for our Declaration of Independence– see page Declaration of Independence– see page 461..”461..”That whenever any Form of That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and institute a new or to abolish it and institute a new Government..”Government..”

Page 11: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu

1818thth century French political philosopher century French political philosopher Emphasized separation of powers in his Emphasized separation of powers in his

book The Spirit of Lawsbook The Spirit of Laws Thought this protected against tyrannyThought this protected against tyranny Government should be divided into a Government should be divided into a

legislative, executive and judicial branchlegislative, executive and judicial branch Each branch should check the others Each branch should check the others

Page 12: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

PhilosophesPhilosophes

1818thth century Radical French thinkers century Radical French thinkers Stressed the use of human reasonStressed the use of human reason Critical of established religious and Critical of established religious and

political practices in Francepolitical practices in France

Page 13: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

**Voltaire**Voltaire

Adopted name of Francois ArouetAdopted name of Francois Arouet 1818thth century French philosopher and century French philosopher and

authorauthor Known for his wit and free thinkingKnown for his wit and free thinking Wrote Candide- a novel about Wrote Candide- a novel about

calamities that happen to the lead calamities that happen to the lead character “all is for the best in this character “all is for the best in this the best of all world’s”the best of all world’s”

Page 14: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

**Rousseau**Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau- 18th Jean-Jacques Rousseau- 18th Century French philosopherCentury French philosopher

Believed that in a state of nature Believed that in a state of nature people are good, but that they are people are good, but that they are corrupted by social institutionscorrupted by social institutions

Wrote- Wrote- The Social ContractThe Social Contract Minimal social controls placed by Minimal social controls placed by

freely elected governmentsfreely elected governments

Page 15: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

RousseauRousseau

General Will- the good of the whole General Will- the good of the whole community should come before that community should come before that of the individual of the individual

Despised all forms of political and Despised all forms of political and economic oppressioneconomic oppression

Page 16: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Women Left OutWomen Left Out

The ideas of the Enlightenment The ideas of the Enlightenment period were limited to menperiod were limited to men

Women began to protestWomen began to protest Led by Mary Wollstonecraft –argued Led by Mary Wollstonecraft –argued

that women were excluded from the that women were excluded from the social contractsocial contract

Stress equal education for boys and Stress equal education for boys and girlsgirls

Page 17: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Laissez FaireLaissez Faire

Some Enlightenment philosophers Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on economic reformsfocused on economic reforms

Laissez Faire economics is the belief Laissez Faire economics is the belief that businesses should be able to that businesses should be able to operate without any or very little operate without any or very little government interferencegovernment interference

Promoted free trade and did not like Promoted free trade and did not like tariffs or taxes on tradetariffs or taxes on trade

Page 18: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation Our first constitutionOur first constitution Introduced in 1777/Adopted in 1781 Introduced in 1777/Adopted in 1781

after revisionsafter revisions Established a very week central Established a very week central

governmentgovernment Most powers given to the statesMost powers given to the states Established a “firm league of friendship Established a “firm league of friendship

between states”between states” No executive or judicial branch—just a No executive or judicial branch—just a

congress of delegates from each statecongress of delegates from each state

Page 19: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Congresses Powers Under Congresses Powers Under the Articlesthe Articles

Congress could conduct foreign affairs, Congress could conduct foreign affairs, declare war and peace and maintain an declare war and peace and maintain an army and navyarmy and navy

Congress could not collect taxes, regulate Congress could not collect taxes, regulate interstate trade and enforce lawsinterstate trade and enforce laws

Country was threatened externally and Country was threatened externally and internallyinternally

Congress realized it had no power to actCongress realized it had no power to act Authorized a convention to “revise the Authorized a convention to “revise the

Articles of Confederation”Articles of Confederation”

Page 20: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Congress Authorizes a Congress Authorizes a ConventionConvention

On February 21, 1787, the On February 21, 1787, the Continental Congress resolved that: Continental Congress resolved that:

...it is expedient that on the second ...it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be appointed by the several States be held at Philladelphia for the sole and held at Philladelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation...Articles of Confederation...

Page 21: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Constitutional Constitutional Convention 1787Convention 1787

Delegates from each state met in Delegates from each state met in Philadelphia from May-September 1787Philadelphia from May-September 1787

Met in Secrecy– to allow those to speak Met in Secrecy– to allow those to speak freelyfreely

74 delegates were appointed by the 74 delegates were appointed by the states, 55 arrived and about 40 took a states, 55 arrived and about 40 took a real part in the work at the Constitutional real part in the work at the Constitutional ConventionConvention

39 signed the Constitution-3 refused to 39 signed the Constitution-3 refused to sign the “flawed document”sign the “flawed document”

Page 22: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the DelegatesDelegates

4/5 were members of Congress, 4/5 were members of Congress, others were governorsothers were governors

Predominantly ProtestantPredominantly Protestant Farmers, businessman, lawyers Farmers, businessman, lawyers It is said they were well read, well It is said they were well read, well

bred, well fed and well wedbred, well fed and well wed James Madison (VA) is known as the James Madison (VA) is known as the

father of the Constitution, he took father of the Constitution, he took notes of the proceedingsnotes of the proceedings

Page 23: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Three Major Three Major CompromisesCompromises

The Constitutional Convention is usually The Constitutional Convention is usually discussed in terms of three major compromisesdiscussed in terms of three major compromises

Compromise between large and small states Compromise between large and small states over representation in Congress-Connecticut over representation in Congress-Connecticut CompromiseCompromise

Compromise between North and South over Compromise between North and South over foreign tradeforeign trade

Compromise between North and South over Compromise between North and South over counting slaves 3/5counting slaves 3/5thth Compromise Compromise

All Agreed on the idea of “Balanced All Agreed on the idea of “Balanced Government”Government”

Page 24: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

The New ConstitutionThe New Constitution

Divided Government- MontesquieuDivided Government- Montesquieu Checks and Balances – MontesquieuChecks and Balances – Montesquieu Social Contract and freely elected Social Contract and freely elected

representatives – Rousseaurepresentatives – Rousseau Government should protect natural rights- Government should protect natural rights-

LockeLocke Government is obligated to those it governs Government is obligated to those it governs

– Locke– Locke Power of government is derived from the Power of government is derived from the

people – Locke, Rousseaupeople – Locke, Rousseau

Page 25: Enlightenment Thinkers Influences on the US Constitution

Works CitedWorks Cited

Burns, James et al. Government by the Burns, James et al. Government by the People. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River. People. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River. 2000.2000.

Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor & Esler, Anthony. Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor & Esler, Anthony. World History: Connections to Today. World History: Connections to Today. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, 2005Pearson: Upper Saddle River, 2005

Hirsch, E.D. Jr. The Dictionary of Cultural Hirsch, E.D. Jr. The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Houghton Mifflin Company: Literacy. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2002.Boston, 2002.

Macridis, Roy. Contemporary Political Macridis, Roy. Contemporary Political Idoelogies. Harper Collins: New York, 1996.Idoelogies. Harper Collins: New York, 1996.