Absolutism and Enlightenment Unit 2 Notes

State Standard 7-2: The Student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of limited government and unlimited government as they functioned in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Indicator 7-2.1 Analyze the characteristics of limited government and unlimited government that evolved in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s. Indicator 7-2.3 Analyze the Enlightenment ideas of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire that challenged absolutism and influenced the development of limited government.

Absolutism in France: Louis XIV ruled from 1643 to 1715 banned the Estates-General (the French version of Congress) overruled the Edict of Nantes (a guarantee of Protestant rights) Controlled taxes, the military, and business plunged France into debt by fighting costly wars in an effort to hurt England

More Absolute Rulers Maria Theresa - Austria Frederick the Great Prussia

Absolutism in Russia: Peter the Great believed in divine right made himself the head of the Russian Orthodox Church decreased the power of the nobles gained more control over the serfs (peasants) tried to “Westernize” Russia built up the borders

State Standards (7-2.3) The student will be able to… Summarize the ideas of the Enlightenment that influenced democratic thought and social institutions throughout the world, including the political philosophies of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu.

Understanding Political Changes of the Enlightenment Natural Law – applies to everyone & can be understood through reason______ described the condition of human existence before a person was exposed to any social or political stimuli Are we born good or evil? Philosophers used this to explain how and why certain social and political organizations existed

Are people naturally good or evil? Natural Law: Are people naturally good or evil?

Thomas Hobbes survivor of the English Civil War supporter of Charles I said life was “nasty, brutish, and short” felt humans were born selfish and violent and could not be trusted – this is his natural law a strong leader (absolute monarch) should protect the people from themselves wrote his ideas in his book Leviathan

The The Leviathan

John Locke said people were not naturally violent but born with a tabula rasa (blank slate) and changed by experiences – his natural law said humans had certain rights they were born with – life, liberty, & property argued that people should form a social contract with their ruler If govt. fails to protect citizens’ rights, or infringes upon those rights, the people can rebel and setup a new govt. (1776) wrote Two Treatises of Government Thomas Jefferson used many of Locke’s ideas when writing the Declaration of Independence

Wrote Two Treatises of Government

Baron De Montesquieu focused on government favored limited government of England to the absolute monarchy of France Wrote The Spirit of Laws recommended separation of powers within the government (three branches) there would be a system of checks and balances where the different branches would limit and control each other

Jean-Jacques Rousseau agreed with John Locke on many points (protection of private property, social contract) wrote The Social Contract – said people agree to be governed by the “general will” instead of their own self-interests felt people relied too much on reason and needed to focus on emotions saw people as basically good (like Locke) emphasized education – civic virtues

Voltaire Wrote novels, plays, and essays Strongly disliked the Catholic Church Thought they kept knowledge from the people to maintain power Believed in religious freedom Deist –God created the universe, but allows it to run itself. Not a intervenor.

Denis Diderot Published 28-volume encyclopedia Challenged tradition/agreed with philosophes and scientists. Topics about science, religion, government, and the arts.

Mary Wollstonecraft Supporter of women’s rights in the 1700s Founder of the movement for women’s rights Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Stated all people have reason, so women should have same rights as men

State Standards (7-2.3) The student will be able to… Outline the role and purposes of a constitution, including such functions as defining a relationship between a people and their government, describing the organization of government and the characteristics of shared powers, and protecting individual rights and promoting the common good.

Constitutions and Government our founders, led by James Madison, used several sources in writing our Constitution political writings of ancient Greece and Rome milestones in English democracy – English Bill of Rights and Magna Carta Enlightenment ideas of scholars like Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau

Functions of a Constitution states the ideals shared by those bound and promotes the common good establishes a framework or structure of government Defines government powers and duties provides the supreme law – the rules that shape the actions of people and the government

Types of constitutions written an actual document stating specific rights, distinct rules, and principles of a nation example: United States Constitution (1787) unwritten a collection of laws, traditions, and court decisions that develop over time into the “law of the land” example: English Constitution (Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights form part of their unwritten constitution)

Different Forms of Government Autocracy power in the hands of a single ruler examples: Louis XIV of France, Peter the Great of Russia Oligarchy power is held by a small group of people examples: communists in the Soviet Union and in China Democracy power is held by the people, usually through voting examples: United States, Great Britain

How do we change the government? voting or running for election passing new laws amending the constitution appealing to the courts

Positive vs. Negative “positive” constitutions focus on the roles and duties of governments they say what government should do “negative” constitutions focus on the restrictions placed upon government they say what government shouldn’t do

Limits of Power How does the U.S. Constitution limit the power of the government? it states the power that the people give to the government it creates a system of checks and balances that limits the powers of government it can be changed through the amendment process