Intellectuals dedicated to changing and reforming society Often disagreed with each other but all championed people’s rights for input into the actions of their government… BIG NEW IDEA at time. All mention a “ social contract ” between people and government

Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan (1651) argued for strong central government to maintain order; believed absolute power of government was important to maintain order Worried by revolutionary upheavals Felt that people were motivated by ruthless struggle for self-preservation thought that people made a social contract with the state in order to preserve order in society

Wrote Two Treatises on Government (1690) and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) argued for a separation of church and state, argued for natural human rights of freedom and independence, felt that people had a right to life, health, liberty, and possessions (property)… Felt that a representative civil society was the best way to ensure that, and that government was a social contract between representatives and people

Voltaire (Francios-Marie Arouet) , worked in France, the center of Enlightenment thought Championed individual freedom, critical of monarchies, Worried about religious tyranny, wrote Treatise on Toleration (1763), “all men are brothers under God” Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws (1748), Best kind of monarchal government (was a constitutional one) and advocated separation of powers in government, “balance of powers” ideal (between judicial, legislative, and executive)… heavily influential to our own constitution

Jean Jacques Rousseau – the best exploration of the social contract idea Suggested that people had become enslaved by government Suggested that the best way for everyone to regain freedom meant that governments must be restored according to a social contract between it and the “general will of the people”, The Social Contract (1762) People had a right to assert general will by force if necessary - REVOLT For the public good, all people’s best interests, all people must submit to the general will … so some had to give up certain independent freedoms

Thomas Jefferson - Declaration of Independence, 1776, big supporter of States rights in his interpretation of the Constitution, Thomas Paine, pamphlet, Common Sense, Adam Smith – 1776, economics, Wealth of Nations - best government approach to economics was a laissez faire, capitalist “hands off” approach to the market

Seven General beliefs of Enlightenment Philosophers 1. Equality before the law 2. Freedom of religious worship 3. Freedom of speech 4. Freedom on the press 5. Right to assemble 6. Hold property 7. Pursue Happiness (Jefferson) ** Directly influenced our Bill of Rights

1215 – Magna Carta, establishes notions of citizens rights vs. King’s obligations 1607 – Jamestown, VA Settlement 1669 – John Locke writes the NC colony constitution 1689 – English Bill of Rights for its Citizens 1754 – Albany Plan proposed to unite Colonies 1765 – British enforcement of Stamp Act angers colonists who argued against “Taxation without Representation” 1770 – Boston Massacre of protesting colonialists

1773 – Boston Tea Party, protesting colonials throw imported tea overboard in Boston Harbor 1774 – 1 st Continental Congress, Philadelphia Pa, organized to protest against “Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts”… punishments after Tea party that results in colonists having to quarter British soldiers, closing of the Port of Boston, all of Mass. Colonial gov. having to be appointed by King, and trials of colonial governors happening only in England 1775 – Revolutionary war breaks out in Lexington & Concord Mass, beginning with death of 8 minute men 1775 – 2 nd Congress runs colonial gov. while war is occurring, appoints George Washington as leader and asks Thomas Jefferson to write Declaration of Independence group drafts the Articles of Confederation (later ratified in 1781) July 4 th, 1776 – Declaration of Independence, establishes freedom from colonial rule for 13 states

From the Declaration – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 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” - American Declaration of Independence, – British Surrender at Battle of Yorktown 1783 – War officially over 1787 – Daniel Shay’s Rebellion highlights weaknesses of the new gov. under Articles of Confederation 1787 – Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, 55 delegates meet to draft new gov. Lead by George Washington, these people became known as the “Framers” They had to compromise over plans from VA and NJ and over how to incorporate slaves and elect representatives to the new federal government

The US Constitution (ratified, 1787) Separation of powers (Legislative, Judicial, Executive … Montesquieu) Separation of Church and State (Voltaire) Concern over the power of central authority (all) Our constitution limits the power of the federal government with many rights and authority granted to states and localities to make laws Ex. No real federal education policy - Local school districts and states decide most of education policy (i.e., the Virginia SOLs) and course offerings States have the right to set state tax laws, make marriage laws, etc., etc.