Revolutionary Ideas NOTES

Classical Republicanism Good Government Small, homogeneous communities Wise rulers who rule on behalf of the people Citizens who place the needs of the community above their own selfish desires Strong defenses Good education

Classical Republicanism Bad Government Rulers rule on behalf of themselves, not the people Tyranny No civic virtue Human passions are uncontrolled

Thinking Like a Philosopher Our class has crashed on a deserted island. While we have more than enough resources, we must survive together.

Thinking Like a Philosopher Consider the following questions: Upon arrival would there be any government or laws to control how you lived, what rights or freedoms you exercised, or what property you had? Why? Would anyone have the right to govern you? Would you have the right to govern anyone else? Why? Would you have any rights? What would they be?

Thinking Like a Philosopher Consider the following questions: 4. What might people who were stronger, wealthier, and/or smarter than others try to do? Why? 5. What might the weaker, less wealthy, and/or less sophisticated people try to do? Why? 6. How certain do you feel you can maintain your rights?

The Enlightenment In the 1600s & early 1700s, many European philosophers wrote that people could use reason to improve society. This use of reason to guide people’s thoughts defined a time period known as the Enlightenment. The ideas of these thinkers contributed to the creation of modern democracy.

Natural Rights Philosophy Good Government Government is based on consent and contract Government is subject to the law Popular sovereignty is fundamental Emphasizes individual rights and human equality

Natural Rights Philosophy Bad Government Is not representative Is not responsive Violates the rights of its people Is not law-abiding

Thomas Hobbes English writer Thomas Hobbes established the foundation for the ideas that were to come. He believed that people were naturally wicked and prone to war. He declared that in order to protect themselves, men agree to a social contract or government.

Thomas Hobbes Hobbes believed that an absolute monarchy was best. He said that any abuses of power by the monarch were to be accepted as the price of peace. Hobbes believed that a democracy would never work.

John Locke English writer John Locke was another major influence on political thought. Like Hobbes, he wrote that government was a contract between people & their leaders. He also declared that people have certain natural rights, including life, liberty, & property.

John Locke According to Locke, government should protect the natural rights of its citizens. If it didn’t, the people had the right to overthrow it.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Rousseau wrote that governments should express the will of the people. He wrote that people enter into a social contract with their governments, giving them the power to create & enforce laws.

Baron de Montesquieu Montesquieu claimed that government should have separate branches in order to protect people’s freedoms. In this idea, known as the separation of powers, each branch of government is limited so that they must share power with the others.

The Enlightenment in America The ideas of Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, & Rousseau spread throughout Europe & then to the colonies in North America. The colonies already understood basic ideas about participation in government through the English Parliament. When the British government began to chip away at what they saw as their rights, the colonists fought back.