AP EURO Unit #2 - Absolutism Lesson #6a Thomas Hobbes John Locke

Philosophize the English Civil War Why did the English fight the Civil War? What were the opposing sides fighting for? SIDE #1- The “Cavaliers” (the King’s men) SIDE #2 – The “Roundheads” (the Parliamentarians) How could our founding fathers use the English Civil War (of the 1600s) to justify the American Revolution in the 1700s? Hint#1 – they were English Citizens Hint #2 – they were trying to be LEGAL Hint #2a – English law is based on “precedent”

Who was THOMAS HOBBES? English philosopher 1588-1679 He was an early philosopher on rational government He lived during the Scientific Revolution, when mankind was learning that the universe was more “rational” than a random creation from God Theorized that Governments are created by the will of the people Saw human nature as EVIL, greedy, and dangerous

Why would such EVIL beings need a government?

Hobbes’ Social Contract Hobbes theorized that kings were put there NOT by God, but by the people And they gave up some liberties to a completely absolute king, who was answerable to no one That way… he could be fair to all He called this THE SOCIAL CONTRACT How is rebellion a breach of that contract?

How did HOBBES conceive his belief? When the English Civil War broke out, he favored the King Why would he NOT favor the Puritans and a representative government “of the people”? He fled to Paris, and finished his most famous Leviathan. This book clearly explained two concepts:

The Leviathan Mankind needed government to keep it safe from its own greed Only an immovable king could represent all people without prejudice TRUST THAT THE GOVERNMENT will be fair Why must this government be “absolute” (immovable) to work in this fashion? The people make up the body, the king is the head.

WHY MUST THE GOVERNMENT BE ABSOLUTE FOR HOBBE’S PLAN TO WORK?

John Locke He saw Hobbes’ premise as flawed Reminder: Hobbes had disagreed with the English Civil War – Locke would have supported it. Locke would have thought the English Civil War was pretty cool Locke wrote SECOND TREATISE OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT (1689) in response to Glorious Revolution (1688)

Glorious Revolution is SO COOL! John Locke Locke believed we were born with “natural rights” And that governments existed to protect those rights They were LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY. And [MOST IMPORTANTLY], we have a responsibility to replace a government that does not protect them. Glorious Revolution is SO COOL!