The Enlightenment and Democratic Revolutions Prologue Sec 4.

The Enlightenment and The Enlightenment and Democratic RevolutionsDemocratic Revolutions

Prologue Sec 4Prologue Sec 4

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

A time period from 1650 to 1790 when A time period from 1650 to 1790 when European intellectuals questioned European intellectuals questioned Absolutism and the Kings’ theory of divine Absolutism and the Kings’ theory of divine right to rule.right to rule.

But then they began questioning But then they began questioning everything – everything – religion, laws, rights, religion, laws, rights, government, ancient thinkers, sciencegovernment, ancient thinkers, science

I Enlightenment thinkers and IdeasI Enlightenment thinkers and Ideas

A. Apply reason and science to all aspects of life

B. Combined ideas of:

1. Ancient Greece – Natural Laws

2. Christianity/Judaism – Equality of People

3. Renaissance – Worldly Concerns

4. Scientific Revolution – rational thought over traditional Beliefs (Scientific Method)

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes English writer during the English Civil WarEnglish writer during the English Civil War Believed in the Believed in the Divine rights of KingsDivine rights of Kings. . In his book In his book Leviathan,Leviathan, he said people were selfish he said people were selfish

and need strong government to prevent social and need strong government to prevent social chaoschaos””

Hobbes’ social contract theory: Hobbes’ social contract theory: humans give up humans give up bad freedoms (to kill, steal, rape, etc.) in bad freedoms (to kill, steal, rape, etc.) in exchange for being part of a society run. They exchange for being part of a society run. They also agree to submit themselves to a strong gov’t also agree to submit themselves to a strong gov’t which can control everyone’s selfishness. which can control everyone’s selfishness.

Social ContractSocial Contract An An agreementagreement between people in a society to between people in a society to

give up certain rights and freedoms in give up certain rights and freedoms in exchange for peace, securityexchange for peace, security, and comfort., and comfort.

Government is the institution that enforces the Government is the institution that enforces the social contract.social contract.

Citizens•Must obey laws

•Pay taxes•Vote for government

Government•Protect citizens’ natural rights.

•Govern the nation

John LockeJohn Locke English writer after the Glorious Revolution English writer after the Glorious Revolution

and English Bill of Rightsand English Bill of Rights Wrote Wrote Two Treatises on GovernmentTwo Treatises on Government that that

governments were created by the people, governments were created by the people, to serve and protect themto serve and protect them

Locke believed every man has Locke believed every man has ““Natural Natural rightsrights”” to to ““Life, Liberty, and PropertyLife, Liberty, and Property..””

The The gov’t should protect these rights, and if gov’t should protect these rights, and if they don’t, the citizens have the right to they don’t, the citizens have the right to change the governmentchange the government..

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau French writer in the 1700sFrench writer in the 1700s Believed that all government Believed that all government

decisions must be based on decisions must be based on the the ““General Will of the General Will of the peoplepeople””. .

The government must be The government must be aware of what the people aware of what the people want and needwant and need

VoltaireVoltaire Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant A French philosopher A French philosopher

1700s1700s Believed that most Believed that most

major institutions were major institutions were flawed flawed (governments, (governments, churches, businesses)churches, businesses)

He He wrote wrote satiresatire (books, (books, essays, and texts that essays, and texts that made fun of society as made fun of society as a way of criticizing it)a way of criticizing it)

Prussian philosopher Prussian philosopher during the 1700sduring the 1700s

He argued that He argued that people must use their people must use their reason and logic to reason and logic to figure things outfigure things out

II. Beginnings of Democracy in II. Beginnings of Democracy in AmericaAmerica

A. A. Americans Protest British Americans Protest British Policies after French and Policies after French and Indian WarIndian War. England. England1. 1. put tax burden on put tax burden on colonies for cost of warcolonies for cost of war2. put more soldiers in 2. put more soldiers in coloniescolonies33 would not let would not let colonists settle west of colonists settle west of Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains4. did not let colonies 4. did not let colonies have representation in have representation in Parliament--Parliament--Taxation Taxation w/out representation w/out representation

B. Americans Win Independence B. Americans Win Independence (1775 – 1781)(1775 – 1781)

Enlightenment Ideas shape the Constitution (1789)Enlightenment Ideas shape the Constitution (1789)1. Representative Govt. 1. Representative Govt. 2. Federal system – Central, State and Local Govt.2. Federal system – Central, State and Local Govt.3. 3 branches of govt.3. 3 branches of govt.

III. The French Revolution

A. Causes of Revolution

1. Louis XVI was a weak leader

2. Unfair tax burden on Poor

3. Peasants thought govt. did not care about them

B. Early Reforms of the Revolution

1. Declaration of Rights of Man – Citizens basic rights

2. Reformed Courts

3. Constitution calling for Limited Monarchy

C. Reforms Undone

1. Outside monarchies went to war with France

2. Reign of Terror

3. Eventually becomes a dictatorship to control chaos due to lack of leadership

III. Struggle for Democracy Continues

A. United Nations promotes democracy – set worldwide standard for how humans should be treated (1948)

B. New Movements toward democracy

1. Former Soviet Union (15 new Nations)

2. South Africa