The Enlightenment Objective: to explain which Enlightenment thinkers influenced the founding of the U.S.A.

New Views on Government English philosopher, believed all people are born equal Government should protect people’s natural rights The leader is not chosen by God Government by consent (vote) Power limited by laws Ideas are the foundation for modern democracy John Locke

Jean-Jacques Rousseau French philosopher, believed people basically are good Believed society corrupts people Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all people of society Believed government should work for the common good, not the wealthy few Individuals should give up some freedoms for benefit of community

Baron de Montesquieu Separation of powers Best form of government has divided power among branches of government Separation of powers kept an individual or group from abusing power Powers divided into branches: legislative, executive, judicial Parliament made laws, king carried out laws, courts interpreted laws Checks and balances Separation of powers allowed each branch to check against power of others

Cesare Beccaria criminal justice system government’s right to have laws and punishments social contract: the idea that freewill and rational individuals made a choice to live in a society instead of living alone.

Adam Smith free market enterprise Strong believer in laissez-faire (hands off) economics= no government regulation Believed economy would be stronger if market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely

Thomas Paine Common Sense, 1776 Wrote: independence would allow free trade, a better equal society This pamphlet helped many colonists overcome their fear about separating from Britain.

Student Input- Create 3 boxes, fill in with notes from the PPT that fit that topic Ideas that challenged an old belief system Ideas that would inspire people to rebel against their king Ideas that gave the common person more power

Student Input: From your notes, place Challenged Beliefs Writers & philosophers questioned ideas long held as the absolute truth Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies Questioned the relationship between church and state Debated rules and rights of people in society Promoted ideas that reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change society Belief in progress spurred many to create changes Believed reason could solve any problem, debated ways to make society more just Did not accept poverty, ignorance, inequality as facts of life Reforms Ideas about power, authority inspired reforms and revolutions American colonists inspired to break free from British monarchy Colonists strongly influenced by political views of Locke, Rousseau Revolutions