Locke and Montesquieu Learning Target 7.62: I can describe the accomplishments of major Enlightenment thinkers, including Locke and Charles-Louis Montesquieu.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. U.S. Declaration on Independence, 1776

Enlightenment Thinkers John Locke Charles-Louis Montesquieu

John Locke Locke believed that all people were born “free,” “equal,” and “independent.” His philosophy talks about what humans are like, and about choosing leaders and giving people power. He did not believe in absolute rulers (only one ruler with all the power). Locke believed the purpose of government was to protect the people and that people had the right to overthrow the government if it did not do its job. He said that every person should be allowed to feel safe and to protect their house, their family, their belongings and themselves.  Our leaders should help us to do this. His ideas about government were used by countries like Canada and the United States, when they were trying to decide how to run things.

Charles-Louis Montesquieu Montesquieu’s work had a big influence on the governments of other countries. To be sure one leader did not have all the power in a government, he believed governments should be divided into different powers: executive, legislative, and judicial. He believed there were three main forms of government: Monarchy: a government run by a king or queen Republic: a government run by an elected leader Despot (despotism): a government run by a dictator

LOCKE MONTESQUIEU All people are born “free, equal, and independent” 3-part government (legislative, executive, judicial) Believed in religious freedom All people are not equal Check and balances limit governments’ powers Approved of slavery Citizens should rebel against unjust governments Believed in the rights of the individual Everyone has natural rights of “life, liberty, and property” Influenced the writing of the U.S. Constitution Governments are formed with the consent of the governed (social contract) People in power will try to increase their power Influenced the writing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence Separation of powers limits the power of governments State should protect individual rights U.S. government based on his suggested structure Supported women’s rights Women were weaker than men Wrote Two Treatises of Government Wrote On the Spirit of Laws

LOCKE MONTESQUIEU All people are born “free, equal, and independent” 3-part government (legislative, executive, judicial) Believed in religious freedom All people are not equal Check and balances limit governments’ powers Approved of slavery Citizens should rebel against unjust governments Believed in the rights of the individual Everyone has natural rights of “life, liberty, and property” Influenced the writing of the U.S. Constitution Governments are formed with the consent of the governed (social contract) People in power will try to increase their power Influenced the writing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence Separation of powers limits the power of governments State should protect individual rights U.S. government based on his suggested structure Supported women’s rights Women were weaker than men Wrote Two Treatises of Government Wrote On the Spirit of Laws