Enlightenment Thinkers

William Blackstone William Blackstone, an English lawyer and judge, summarized English law in his Commentaries on the Laws of England.  He incorporated Judeo-Christian principles into his works, such as the Ten Commandments and that God’s law was to be man’s law.   His multivolume Commentaries on the Laws of England explained the English common law – a system of laws based on precedents set in courts. Blackstone defined the rights of individuals and property rights in English law. This text became the basis of a legal education in England, pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary America. His works remain an important part of an American lawyer’s education.  His works influenced James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Hooker Thomas Hooker was a Puritan colonial leader. He founded the colony of Connecticut after disagreeing with Puritan leader in Massachusetts.  He was active in politics in Connecticut. Hooker was an influential preacher and writer on Christian subjects.  In the opening sermon at the First Church in Hartford, he preached, “the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people.” He was influential in the inspiration and adoption of the “Fundamental Order of Connecticut”, the first written democratic constitution that established a representative government. More on Hooker on next slide

Hooker Cont. Hooker believed in the principle of equality for all mankind.  He is sometimes called “the father of American democracy.” He advanced a more democratic view, favoring the vote for all men, regardless of any religious or property qualifications. The government of the United States today is more closely related to that of Connecticut than any of the other thirteen colonies.

John Locke John Locke was an early English philosopher during the time of the Glorious Revolution. He challenged the theory of divine right. Locke believed governments derived their power from the people, not from God.  He saw individuals as free in their natural state joining together to form communities to protect themselves. The community then hands their power over to the government in a “social contract.” A century later, Thomas Jefferson incorporated many of Locke’s ideas in the Declaration of Independence. Locke stated the main purpose of government was to protect the life, liberty and property of its citizens. Furthermore, when the government abused its power, people had the right to revolt. American colonists cited this as a justification for revolting against the British government.

Baron Charles de Montesquieu Baron Charles de Montesquieu, a key thinker of the Enlightenment, recorded his ideas about government and law in several books. His book, The Spirit of the Laws, argued for separating the powers of government into three branches as a guard against tyranny. His ideas encouraged the development of a system of checks and balances established by the U.S. Constitution. Madison championed and defended these ideas in the Federalist Papers. Montesquieu was the most quoted political philosopher at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

William Penn William Penn was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom. He was a philosopher, and real estate entrepreneur.  He established the English colony of Pennsylvania. Penn saw this colony as a “Holy Experiment”; a society that was godly, virtuous and exemplary for all humanity. Pennsylvania was a haven for Quakers People of diverse backgrounds were welcomed into the colony. He insisted that women deserved equal rights with men. He implemented democratic principles through his Framework of Government. He borrowed from the ideas of John Locke.  Penn thought it was important to limit the power of the government. The new government would have two houses, protect the rights of property ownership and free enterprise and tax fairly. Power should come from the people, from “open discourse”, similar to the way a Quaker meeting war run.

Penn Cont. As an early support of colonial unity, Penn suggested a Union of all English Colonies in what would become the United States.