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

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

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

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

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”?

The EnlightenmentBy 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.

Natural LawRules 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.

Influential Thinkers/Writers Feed the Enlightenment.

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 GovernmentWithout control, life would be “solitary, poor,

nasty, brutish, and short.”Believed an absolute monarch was necessary to

impose order and force obedience.

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”.

John LockeEssay: “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.

Locke’s Radical ProposalBelieved 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

MontesquieuBook: “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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Adam SmithScottish 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.

England’s Rise to PowerReasons 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)

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.

Slave TradeA monopoly of the slave trade to Spanish America

brought enormous wealth to British merchants.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Colonial GovernmentColonists 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!”

Influence of the EnlightenmentFounding 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

The Revolution1770 – 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 ConcordFirst real battles of the war.

July 4th 1776 – Declaration of Independence

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.