1. Absolutism and Enlightenment
Unit 2 Notes

2. 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 Analyze the characteristics of limited government and unlimited government that evolved in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s. Indicator Analyze the Enlightenment ideas of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire that challenged absolutism and influenced the development of limited government.

3. 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

7. More Absolute Rulers Maria Theresa - Austria
Frederick the Great Prussia

8. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. 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

15. The
The Leviathan

16. 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

17. Wrote Two Treatises of Government

18. 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

20. 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

22. 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.

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

26. 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

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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)

32. 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

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

34. 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

35. 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