THE ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS

Reason as a unifying doctrine Science and rational inquiry = the common ground which reunited men, previously polarized into Catholic or Protestant Industrial Revolution Economic growth

The Enlightenment = Natural philosophers = scientists Philosophy = discover the underlying laws which would organize all knowledge into a clear, rational system, Enabling individuals to become enlightened, and the societies in which they live to progress.

The Philosophers Hobbes Locke Rousseau Mary Wollstonecraft Voltaire Diderot Montesquieu

Thomas Hobbes 1588 – 1679 A.D. To escape the state of nature, people entered into a social contract: they agreed to give up some of their rights and to assume some responsibilities in exchange for law and order. Once people entered into the contract, they needed someone to enforce it. For Hobbes, a strong monarch with absolute power was necessary to enforce the contract and keep order. The founder of modern political philosophy. English Civil War + execution of Charles I Leviathan (1651) and his social contract theory. Life before government, a theoretical time and place =the state of nature: Since man is self-interested, and since resources are limited, life in the state of nature would be brutal. Everyone would live in constant fear because they can not trust one another and their future can never be certain. Since man is also rational, and since life in this environment is so brutal, it follows that a person should try to leave the state of nature, as soon as possible. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Hobbes_(portrait).jpg

John Locke 1632 – 1704 A.D. Two Treatises of Civil Government (1690) Based on his medical observations = At birth, the mind is a tabula rasa, a blank tablet. Everything we know comes from the experience of the senses – empiricism. ` In the “State of Nature”, God gave man: Rights to life, liberty, and property (which he calls Natural Rights) The ability to reason In order to defend their “life, health, liberty, or possessions,” people entered into a social contract, forming governments that existed to protect individual rights to help resolve conflicts between citizens. All political rights (free speech, free press, freedom of religion) depended on a government that guaranteed secure property rights. If a government failed in its duties to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, people had a right to overthrow it. The power of the government does not come from God, but from the consent of the governed. Need to limit the power of the government http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JohnLocke.png

Charles de Montesquieu 1689 – 1755 A.D. On the Spirit of Laws (1748): the mode of government: Separation of Powers - the best way to protect liberty was to divide the powers of government into three branches: legislative; executive; and judicial. Checks and Balances – each branch of government should check (limit) the power of the other two branches. Thus, power would be balanced (even) and no one branch would be too powerful = US government http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Montesquieu.jpg

Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1712 – 1778 A.D. Man, by nature, is basically good ( Hobbes) Men are corrupted by the evils of civil society (art, science, and technology, the absolute monarchy) 1762, The Social Contract Good government has the consent of the people and is guided by the “general will” Citizens are part of a whole; the common good must be placed above self-interest.

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT Women had not been included in the Enlightenment slogan “free and equal” and had been excluded from the social contract. A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792. Believed in equal education for girls and boys. Only education could give women the knowledge to participate equally with men in public life. She did argue that a woman’s first duty was to be a good mother. But, a woman could also decide on her own what was in her interest without depending on her husband.

Origin of British law: 1215 Magna Carta Limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility. Big Ideas: Limited Government Rule of Law Due Process of Law Trial by jury

The 1628 Petition of Rights England's most famous Constitutional documents. Written by Parliament as an objection to an overreach of authority by King Charles I. English citizens saw this overreach of authority as a major infringement on their civil rights. Big Ideas: No taxes without parliament’s consent No imprisonment without cause No quartering of soldiers in citizen’s homes No Marshall Law in peace time

Habeas Corpus Act 1679 Required a court to examine the lawfulness of a prisoner's detention and thus prevent unlawful or arbitrary imprisonment.

The 1689 English Bill of Rights Expanded the powers of the English Parliament + the rights of the people, Limited the rights of the king. Big Ideas: Limited Government Rights Due Process Rule of Law

Suspending the laws without consent of Parliament is illegal; Levying taxes without grant of Parliament is illegal; It is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal; Keeping a standing army in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law; Protestants may have arms for their defence  Election of members of Parliament ought to be free; The freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament; Excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted; Jurors in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders; For redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.

The 1776 Declaration of Independence (inspired by Locke) Drafted by Thomas Jefferson People had the right to “alter or abolish unjust governments.” Popular sovereignty All government power comes from the people Fair government is based on the consent of the governed King had trampled the peoples’ natural rights. Colonists now had the right to rebel

The 1787 Constitution Inspired by Montesquieu Separation of powers: Legislative, Executive, Judiciary Representation (Members of Congress + president elected by the people)

The 3 branches of government

The 1791 Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments of the Constitution Defense of individual rights 1st amt= freedom of speech, religion