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What is a revolution?
Are people justified in choosing revolution as a solution to
political and social problems?
What social and economic situations exist in America today and
could they lead to a revolution?
Do you think a revolution would be likely in the United
States?Why or Why not?
How does our system of government prevent the need for a
revolution? Focus Questions
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I. Enlightenment IdealsA. Historical Documents
II. French Enlightenment PhilosophesA. Rousseau B. VoltaireC.
Physiocrats
III. English/Scottish Enlightenment PhilosophesA. John LockeB.
Adam SmithEnlightenment PhilosophersInfluences of the
Declaration
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Enlightenment Ideals Equality, Questioning Tradition, Self-Rule,
Freedoms
Deism Natural law and reasonGod created the world and let things
happen naturally without interference
Separation of Church and State
Laissez-Faire Let them do as they please
Rationalism reason is the source of knowledge(using your mind to
come to a conclusion that makes sense)I. Enlightenment Ideals
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Reasons for enlightenment thinking
Influenced by the Scientific Revolution questioning accepted
beliefs
Wanted to find a way to improve society(Reason, Natural Law,
Hope, Progress)I. Enlightenment Ideals
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A. Historical DocumentsDocuments influencing the Declaration
Magna CartaEnglish Bill of RightsColonial American Documents
Virginia Constitution, Virginia Declaration of Rights
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau French Philosopher
Works:The Social Contract
Teachings:Through a contract society agrees to be
governedGovernment receives power from the people
General-will represents what is best for everyone,not just some
(Majority Rules)
Women should be taught to be good mothers and wivesA.
Rousseau
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Voltaire Author/French PhilosopherGreatest philosopher of
Enlightenment
Works:Pamphlets, letters, essays, novelsLed to fame and
wealth
Teachings:Criticized Christianity (Catholicism) Religious
tolerationAll men are brothers under GodB. Voltaire
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PhysiocratsFrench group of economists
Teachings:Society benefits when people are allowedto do what
they want economically(businesses charge own prices, people buy
what they want)
Government should stay out of economicmattersFranois Quesnay E.
Physiocrats
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John LockeEnglish Philosopher
Works: Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Teachings:People are born with a blank mind Tabula RasaPeople
are shaped by their experiences, environment change environment ---
change societyA. John Locke
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Adam Smith Scottish Economist/Philosopher
Works:The Wealth of Nations
Teachings:State should not interfere in economicmatters
Three Roles of Government:1. Protect society from invasion
(Army)2. Defend citizens from injustice (Police)3. Keep up public
works (Roads, Canals, things private individuals cant afford)B.
Adam Smith
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BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC
Thomas Paine : author Common Sense
Navigation Acts: Britain regulated trade in colonies
Why Problems started: 7 years war, French & Indian war
drained England treasury.-Taxes increased -Strictly enforcing
Navigation Acts
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EARLY FIGHTS
Boston Massacre: British soldiers shoot into crowd of colonist
for throwing snowballs at them
Boston Tea Party: to protest tax on tea
1st Continental Congress: Philadelphia -to draw up grievances
and send letter to Parliament-Set up 1st continental army George
Washington2nd Continental Congress:-declared independence-Thomas
Jefferson main author of Declaration of Indp-Locke ideas main ones
usedPopular Sovereignty
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AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Britain : had soldiers in colonies-offered freedom to slaves who
fought colonist-LoyalistColonist: knew the land- fighting for
personal reasons-Guerilla tactics
Turning Point: Battle of Saratoga (colonist win)-persuaded
France to help colonist (hated England)-supplied, soldiers, war
ships and supplies
Treaty of Paris: British defeated at Yorktown forced to
surrender- 2yrs later signed treaty to end war- recognized
independence -US land all the way to the Mississippi River
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CONSTITUTION
Articles Of Confederation: to weak
Federal Republic: power divided between Federal (national) govt
and states
Separate branches: Executive Judicial Legislative
Bill of Rights: 1st 10 amendments to constitution
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In general, the art of government consists in taking as much
money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the
other.
Dictionnaire Philosophique, 1764Do you agree with this
statement? Why or Why not?
What do you believe the role of government should be? Give at
leastTHREE examples.
Why do you think the above listed items are the role of
government?
Do you believe there should be more government control in your
lifeor less?
Give an example of why more government control is
beneficial.Give an example of why less government control is
beneficial.
****Magna Cartaconsidered a bill of rights for medieval
Englandestablishing that the King was not above the lawvery
influential on the development of similar bills of rights, such as
the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitutionright to
habeas corpus, a clause protecting the freedom of the church, and
other clauses which spelled out the rules for due process of
law
*Believed people were naturally good but evils of socieity
especially unequal distribution of property corrupted them
Felt individual desires should be subordinate to the community
good -unlike others of the time
*Targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats
Detested slave trade and deplored religious prejudice
Was imprisoned and forced into exile
Fought for freedom of speechfought for reforms such as freedom
of religion and the right to a fair trial.*Laissez Faire: allowing
business to operate with little or no govt. interference
*People were basically reasonable and moral
Natural Rights: rights all humans had from birthlife, liberty,
property
Argued: People created govt. to protect their natural rights and
best govt. had limited power and accepted by all citizens. Rejected
Absolute Monarchy
If govt. fails to protect peoples rights, people had right to
overthrow govt.*Free market should regulate business activity
Invinted: Supply and demand idea
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