Beginnings: Exploration, Colonization, Enlightenment

The Reign of the Absolute Monarchs Absolute Monarch - A king or queen who is all-powerful within their territory or country –They controlled every aspect of society; –They believed in divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy and the monarch acted as God’s representative on Earth. Absolute monarchs dominated Europe from the 1400’s through the late 1700’s

Religious Strife in Europe The Reformation – A movement to reform the Catholic church –Began in 1492 with Martin Luther; –King Henry VIII separates from the Catholic church in 1534 and establishes the Anglican Church; Puritans – A religious group in England who thinks the Anglican Church is still too Catholic; –They want to further reform the Anglican Church; –Some want to separate from the church altogether;

The Age of Exploration Monarchs need new sources of wealth and want to expand their power; –3 G’s – God, Glory, Gold –Monarchs begin financing sailing expeditions; Columbus “discovers” America and claims it on behalf of Spain The first English colony is established at Jamestown The Pilgrims found Plymouth colony

The Enlightenment The Enlightenment - an intellectual movement that started in France and spread around Europe and to the Americas; –Began as a reaction to absolute monarchy; –Philosophers argued for social equality and individual liberty. –People began to believe they had rights and were important as individual human beings

John Locke ( ) Writes about the idea of a social contract; –Second Treatise on Government According to John Locke: –Life is very difficult in a state of nature; –All people are born with certain natural rights, but those rights are not protected in a state of nature. –People need to create government in order to protect these natural rights.

THINK ABOUT IT!! What is a contract? –A contract is a promise made between two or more parties to exchange something of value. –Quid Pro Quo: “Something for Something” What is the social contract? –People consent to be ruled by the government. –The Government promises to protect the rights of the people (life, liberty and property). –The people have the right to rebel if the government breaks the social contract.

Other Enlightenment Thinkers Voltaire – Advocated tolerance and freedom of speech Rousseau - Believed that the will of the majority was more important than the will of a single individual (majority rule) Montesquieu – Wrote about the separation of powers between parts of government –ex. legislative, executive, and judicial branches