Warm-up: Write your answer to this question In Your Notebook Do you think that people are mostly good with some bad tendencies or inherently bad/greedy?

Standard 2c Examine writings of Philosophers Objective: How did the enlightenment thinkers influence the writings of the Declaration of Independence and American Government?

Early 1700’s: If people used reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws? Laws that govern human nature Reformers begin studying human nature and societal problems Scientific Revolution Leads to Enlightenment

Major Enlightenment Ideas Every social, political and economic problem could be solved through the use of reason Governments are created to secure an orderly society Separation of powers is the best way to protect human liberties All men are created “free and equal”

The Enlightenment Characteristics: Applied reason to the human world, not just the natural world Led to religious tolerance Led to democratic revolutions

Political Philosophy Leading to the U.S. Constitution Social Contract Theorists: Thomas Hobbes: The Leviathan (1651) John Locke: 2 nd Treatise on Gov’t (1681) Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Social Contract (1763) Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws)

Social Contract Theory A social contract is an act by which individuals agree to form a government According to social contract theory, governments are established by the people who combine to achieve some goal Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Baron de Montesquieu were social contract theorists They hypothesized the existence of a state of nature prior to any government

Hobbes’ Leviathan Famous Work: Leviathan Life is nasty, brutish, and short

Hobbes’ Leviathan State of nature is war For Hobbes, civil war was the ultimate terror, the definition of fear itself. He thus wanted to reform philosophy in order to reform the nation and thereby vanquish fear. Security is most important

Hobbes’ Leviathan Civil peace and social unity are best achieved by the establishment of a commonwealth through social contract Ideal commonwealth is ruled by a sovereign power responsible for protecting the security of the commonwealth and granted absolute authority to ensure the common defense.

Hobbes’ Leviathan Natural state of man is war Strong central government needed to keep order Supported Absolute Monarchy Supported a social contract

Locke: Second Treatise on Gov’t Famous Work: Two Treatises on Government Did NOT support an absolute Monarchy

Locke: Second Treatise on Gov’t Beliefs: Government’s power comes from the people. Government’s job is to protect people and their rights.

Locke: Second Treatise on Gov’t People are born free and equal with three Natural Rights: Life Liberty Property

Locke: Second Treatise on Gov’t Governing principle: liberty Places sovereignty in hands of the people People are equal and invested with natural rights in a state of nature in which they live free from outside rule Natural law governs behavior

Locke: Second Treatise on Gov’t People exchange some of their natural rights to enter into society with other people, and be protected by common laws and a common executive power to enforce the laws. People have the right to dissolve their government, if that government ceases to work solely in their best interest. The government has no sovereignty of its own it exists to serve the people

Social Contract Thomas HobbesJohn Locke Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish. To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract. Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society. Believed only an absolute monarchy could keep a society completely orderly. Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property People form governments to protect natural rights Best government was one with limited power If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government

Key Ideas of Locke: The idea of self-government favored over absolute monarchy. All humans have the same natural rights to seek life, liberty and property. All humans have a responsibility not to intrude on the rights of others. Government represents a social contract between the ruler and the people.

Key Ideas of Locke: The purpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights. If it doesn’t, the people have the right to overthrow that government. Government’s power comes from the consent of the people

Rousseau: Social Contract Famous Work: The Social Contract Government is a contract between people and their rulers.

Rousseau: Social Contract “People are born free but are often kept in chains by their social institutions. People give up some of their freedom in exchange for the common good. The general will or the will of the majority must take priority over individual will.

Key Ideas of Rousseau: Government should be formed by the people and guided by the general will of society. All people are equal and titles of nobility should be abolished. Every system of government should have as its objectives two things, liberty and equality.

Montesquieu Famous Work: The Spirit of Laws 1748 How government would work best

Montesquieu Spirit of Laws Montesquieu’s book, On the Spirit of Laws, published in 1748 was his most famous work He believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed. He set out to study these laws scientifically with the hope that knowledge of the laws of government would reduce the problems of society.

Montesquieu Spirit of Laws Montesquieu believed there were three types of governments. A Monarchy ruled by a King or Queen A Republic ruled by an elected leader And a Despotism or ruled by a Dictator Montesquieu believed that the best form was a Republic He argued that the best government would be one in which power is divided into three groups. This became known as Separation of Powers

Separation of Powers Baron de Montesquieu: Criticized absolute monarchy and admired British government British protected themselves from tyranny by dividing powers of government between three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each branch of government should be able to ‘check’ the other two What government does this sound like?

Montesquieu Beliefs: Government should include separation of powers: Legislative Branch – Makes laws Executive Branch – Enforces laws Judicial Branch – Interprets laws

Separation of Power

U.S. Separation of Power

Key Ideas of Montesquieu: Many forms of government can work well. The liberty of the people should be protected from corrupt leaders. Freedom for the people should be sought and tyranny in any form should be opposed. Separation of powers in government is the key to successfully keeping one person or group from obtaining too much power. Having three branches of government would separate the power and serve as a check of each other.

Conclusion How did the idea’s of the Enlightenment Thinkers influence the Declaration of Independence as well as American Government?

Declaration of Independence Key Ideas of the Declaration of Independence: All men are created equal. Men have inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Governments are instituted to protect these rights. Governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed. If a government takes away people’s natural rights, the people have a right to abolish it. People have a right to establish a new government that will protect their natural rights.