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Age of Revolutions

Age of Revolutions. The Enlightenment. (quote page 549 bottom paragraph). Natural Law. Rules which govern our world and which are able to be discovered through reasoning. Social Contract. Agreement by which people give up their freedoms to join an organized society. Natural Rights.

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Age of Revolutions

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  1. Age of Revolutions

  2. The Enlightenment (quote page 549 bottom paragraph)

  3. Natural Law Rules which govern our world and which are able to be discovered through reasoning.

  4. Social Contract Agreement by which people give up their freedoms to join an organized society.

  5. Natural Rights Rights we have from birth which cannot be taken away. (Life, Liberty, Property)

  6. TLW analyze how the Enlightenment contributed to transformations in European society.

  7. What is Absolutism? • Ruler with complete authority over the government and the lives of the people. • What is Divine Right? • Belief that a monarchs authority to rule came from God. • What does it mean to be “Enlightened”?

  8. The Enlightenment • By the 1700’s many European thinkers felt that they could fix social, political, and economic problems they saw in Europe through reasoning. • The success of the Scientific Revolution convinced many that through human reasoning, many problems could be solved.

  9. Natural Law • Rules which govern our world and can be discovered through reason. • Gravity, magnetism, etc. • Thinkers in the “Enlightenment” believed they could use reason and “natural law” to cure the problems they saw in society.

  10. Influential Thinkers/Writers Feed the Enlightenment.

  11. Thomas Hobbes (English) • Writing: “Leviathan” • View on Human nature: • Naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish. People in their natural state would fight, rob, and oppress each other. • Role of Government • Without control, life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” • Believed an absolute monarch was necessary to impose order and force obedience.

  12. Hobbes’ “Social Contract” • To escape the brutality of existing in nature, people enter into an agreement in which they give up their freedoms for an organized society. • This agreement is called a “Social Contract”.

  13. John Locke • Essay: “Two Treatises of Government” • View on human nature: • Felt people were for the most part reasonable and moral/good. • Believed we had “Natural Rights”, rights which we have from birth which cannot be taken away. • Purpose of government: • Protect our “Natural Rights”. • Believed the best government is one with limited power and which is accepted by all citizens.

  14. Locke’s Radical Proposal • Believed that governments have an obligation to the people being governed. • If it fails to live up to its obligations, or violates our natural rights, the people have the right to overthrow that government

  15. Montesquieu • Book: “The Spirit of the Laws” • Studied governments throughout the world and history. • Best form of government: • Best way to protect liberty/freedoms was to divided the functions/powers of government into three branches. • Legislative, Executive, and Judicial • Felt each branch should be able to “check” the power of the other two. • Sound familiar?

  16. Voltaire • Battled inequality, injustice, and the slave trade with his pen. • Targeted corruption in government. • Put in prison and then forced into exile. • Continued to defend freedom of speech.

  17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • Writing: “The Social Contract” • View on human nature: • People are basically good but their “natural” innocence is corrupted by the evils of society. • Believed that societies put too much restriction on behavior. • Only governments that are freely elected should impose the controls on society.

  18. Overarching Question?? • How did Enlightenment philosophers help transform European society? • Their ideas were spread through their writings. • People now began to examine the role of government in their lives.

  19. The Enlightenment and Economics

  20. Economics Study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods (and services).

  21. Laissez-Faire Hands-off government. Economic theory which promoted little to no government intervention in business.

  22. Philosophers in the Enlightenment also applied their theory of “Natural Laws” to economics. • French “Physiocrats” supported a policy of “laissez-faire”, which literally means “let the people choose”. • Hands off government • Physiocrats rejected mercantilism which they felt actually hurt trade.

  23. Adam Smith • Scottish economist • Father of economics. • “The Wealth of Nations” • Smith’s famous book on economics. • Argued for a “Free market” • Proposed that Supply and Demand drove the market place. • Where there was a demand for a good or service, suppliers would seek to meet that demand in order to make a profit. • Therefore, by pursuing our own self interest, we will benefit all. • Smith also supported the new “laissez-faire” philosophy of government.

  24. The American Revolution

  25. England’s Rise to Power • Reasons for the rise • Through 1500-1600’s England built a global trade empire as the power of Spain declined. • English government promoted policies favorable for business and trade. (More so than other European nations)

  26. England had been on the winning side of conflicts in the 1700’s. • Gained Newfoundland and Nova Scotia from France (Treaty of Utrecht) • Gained all of French Canada after winning the French and Indian war. • United Kingdom formed as Scotland and Ireland united with England.

  27. Slave Trade • A monopoly of the slave trade to Spanish America brought enormous wealth to British merchants.

  28. The American Colonies and British Mercantilism • By the mid 1700’s, England’s 13 American colonies had become very prosperous. • American cities such as Boston, Charleston, Philadelphia, and New York were important links in England’s commercial/trade network. (Triangle Trade) • To England, these colonies existed to bring wealth into the Parent country.

  29. The Navigation Acts (1600’s) • Mercantilist policies aimed at controlling colonial trade and manufacturing. • Restricted colonial trade. Forced the colonies to trade with England only and transport goods on English ships. • Poorly enforced, making smuggling a common occurrence. • John Hancock made a fortune by smuggling.

  30. Taxes Bring Discontent in America • England’s wars with France had drained its finances. • King George III felt the colonists needed to help pay for the wars.

  31. Taxes on Colonists Passed by Parliament • Sugar Act (1764) • Import tax on sugar brought to the American Colonies. • Stamp Act (1765) • Placed a tax on many items including newspapers, playing cards, ink, etc. • Tea Tax (1767) • Forced Colonists to buy tea only from the British East India company.

  32. Colonial Government • Colonists believed they were English citizens and therefore were entitled to the rights of English citizens. • While the colonies had their own colonial governments/assemblies, they were not represented in Parliament. • Without representation in Parliament, colonists felt the English government had no right to tax them. • “No taxation without representation!”

  33. Influence of the Enlightenment • Founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington had studied the Enlightenment thinkers. • Enlightenment ideas helped convince them that they were ready to break with England and form a better government for themselves

  34. The Revolution • 1770 – Boston Massacre • British soldiers fire on citizens of Boston. • 1773 – Boston Tea Party • Bostonians dressed as natives hurl British tea into Boston harbor. • 1775 – Battle of Lexington and Concord • First real battles of the war. • July 4th 1776 – Declaration of Independence

  35. Aid Eventually came from England’s enemies. • France, Spain, and the Netherlands were eager for England to lose power. • 1783 - Americans won their independence with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. • 1787 – Our present Constitution is written reflecting many ideas from the Enlightenment. • Established a Federal Republic where power is divided between a National (Federal) government and the State governments.

  36. Age of Revolution Questions • 1. What is natural law? • 2. What is a “Social Contract?” • 3. What is natural rights? • 4. What is absolutism? • 5. What are “Divine Rights?” • 6. What was the Enlightenment? • 7. What are some things Thomas Hobbes believed? • 8. How did Hobbes define Social Contract? • 9. Write Thomas Jefferson’s famous quote.

  37. A. Of R. Questions continued • 10. What philosophies did Montesquieu believe? • 11. What philosophies did Voltaire believe? • 12. List the eight articles of the Bill of Rights. • 13. What philosophies did Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe? • 14. What was the name of the book that Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote? • 15. What things lead to the American Revolution? • 16. List at least four founding fathers of the U.S. • 17. What year did America win its independence?

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