Enlightenment Thinkers

Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679 His most famous work was called Leviathan.

Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679 To escape the state of nature, people would enter into a social contract: they would give up some freedoms in return for the safety and order of an organized society. Hobbes believed that a powerful government like an absolute monarchy was best for society – it would impose order and force obedience. It would also be able to suppress rebellion. His biggest influence on government was being the first thinker to popularize the idea of social contract

John Locke 1632-1704 Locke wrote the “Two Treatises of Government”

John Locke 1632-1704 He believed we are born with natural rights: The right to life, liberty, and property. Rulers / governments have an obligation (responsibility), to protect the natural rights of the people it governs. Locke believed in a social contract consisting of self government. The people rule (popular sovereignty). If the government fails to protect the natural rights of the people, the people have the right and obligation to alter (change) or abolish (overthrow) the government and create a new contract.

Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson 1776 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all 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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Baron de Montesquieu 1689-1775 He wrote The Spirit of the Laws.

Baron de Montesquieu 1689-1775 In his version of a social contract he believed government could improve liberty by creating a safe country with laws. Separation of Powers - the best way to protect the freedom of the people was to divide the powers of government into three branches: Legislative: Makes the Law Executive: Enforces the Law Judicial: Interprets the Law To help one branch not gain all the power Montesquieu established Checks and Balances Each branch of government would check (limit) the power of the other two branches. Thus, power would be balanced (even) and no one branch would be too powerful.

Jean- Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778 His most famous work was The Social Contract.

Jean- Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778 For Rousseau, the social contract was the path to freedom: people should do what is best for their community. The general will (of the people) should direct the state toward the common good. Government must follow majority rule, or more than half of people agreeing to a decision. He believed in a direct democracy . He influenced our founding fathers to include democracy in the Constitution.

Summary Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau all believed in SOCIAL CONTRACT Locke and Montesquieu’s ideas had the most influence on our founding fathers Locke = Declaration of Independence Montesquieu = Constitution