What we think we KNOW

Why was America established?

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

Important termsImportant terms

• Absolutism: A system of government in Absolutism: A system of government in which a monarch is the only source of which a monarch is the only source of powerpower

• Common good: An effort by individuals to Common good: An effort by individuals to work together for the benefit of allwork together for the benefit of all

• Natural rights: A belief that individualsNatural rights: A belief that individuals are are naturally endowed with basic human rights naturally endowed with basic human rights that cannot be taken away or given upthat cannot be taken away or given up

Path to the EnlightenmentPath to the Enlightenment

• Forefathers of the Enlightenment: Forefathers of the Enlightenment: – John Locke: wrote John Locke: wrote Essay Concerning Essay Concerning

Human UnderstandingHuman Understanding•Stated that every person was born with a

tabula rasa, or blank slate

•People are molded by the experiences in the world, and so if people change society can change as well

Hobbes v. LockeHobbes v. Locke

• In this corner: John Locke: Believing that In this corner: John Locke: Believing that people have natural rights and that before people have natural rights and that before society was organized people lived in a state society was organized people lived in a state of equality and freedomof equality and freedom

• And in this corner: Thomas Hobbes: And in this corner: Thomas Hobbes: Believing that people entered into a social Believing that people entered into a social contract and agreed to form a state; this contract and agreed to form a state; this state would then be governed by an state would then be governed by an absolute ruler in order to keep peace and absolute ruler in order to keep peace and preserve orderpreserve order

Who led the Enlightenment?Who led the Enlightenment?

• The philosophes: the Enlightenment The philosophes: the Enlightenment thinkersthinkers– Writers, professors, journalists, Writers, professors, journalists,

economists, and social reformerseconomists, and social reformers– Mostly noble/middle classMostly noble/middle class– The role of philosophy is to change the The role of philosophy is to change the

worldworld– The philosophes often disagreed The philosophes often disagreed

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu• French nobilityFrench nobility• The Spirit of Laws: The Spirit of Laws: study of governmentsstudy of governments

– Tried to use the scientific method to find the natural Tried to use the scientific method to find the natural laws that govern the social and political relationships of laws that govern the social and political relationships of human beingshuman beings

– Three kinds of governments: Three kinds of governments: • Republics= small statesRepublics= small states• Despotism= large statesDespotism= large states• Monarchies= moderate statesMonarchies= moderate states

– Three forms of governmentThree forms of government• The executive (monarch)The executive (monarch)• The legislative (parliament)The legislative (parliament)• The judicial (courts)The judicial (courts)

– Government functions through a separation of powers/ Government functions through a separation of powers/ checks and balanceschecks and balances

•

VoltaireVoltaire• Prosperous middle class family in ParisProsperous middle class family in Paris• Religion: Criticized Christianity and Religion: Criticized Christianity and

believed strongly that all religions should believed strongly that all religions should be tolerant of one anotherbe tolerant of one another– ““All men are brothers under God.”All men are brothers under God.”

– Treatise on Toleration, Treatise on Toleration, 17631763

• DeismDeism– Foundation= Newtonian world-machineFoundation= Newtonian world-machine– Mechanic of the universe= God (clockmaker)Mechanic of the universe= God (clockmaker)– Universe= a clock Universe= a clock – What happens after God sets the clock? What What happens after God sets the clock? What

is his God’s role then? is his God’s role then?

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau

• Part of the later EnlightenmentPart of the later Enlightenment

• Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind: of Mankind: people are enslaved to their people are enslaved to their governmentsgovernments

• The Social Contract: The Social Contract: – Most famous work Most famous work – Social contract: society agrees to be governed Social contract: society agrees to be governed

by its general willby its general will• Individuals cannot follow their own self- interestsIndividuals cannot follow their own self- interests