Enlightenment and the American Revolution

Definitions Philosophe Member of a group of Enlightenment thinkers who tried to apply the methods of science to the improvement of society Natural Law Rule or law that governs human nature Natural Right Right that belongs to all humans from birth Enlightenment Revolution in thinking. Through the use of reason, people and governments could solve every social, political and economic problem.

Enlightenment and the American Revolution With a partner answer the questions below on the BACK of the Unit 7 Illustrated Dictionary Definitions sheet. What rights do students have at Irving High School? What rights are not granted to students here? Who grants these rights? How are the rights and privileges granted to students at Irving High different from rights in the “real world?”

Enlightenment and the American Revolution With your partner define the word RIGHTS, using only one sentence. Write this on the BACK of the Unit 7 Illustrated Dictionary Definitions sheet You have 2 minutes. Each of you must create a PowerPoint slide entitled RIGHTS. On this slide, write your definition of rights. Insert ONE photograph which illustrates your definition. You have 5 minutes. Include your name and your class period. Submit the slide in Blackboard’s assignments, folder 1750-1914, title = “rights.” 5 MINUTES ONLY!!!!

Enlightenment and the American Revolution Complete your illustrated dictionary definitions. Send me your “Rights” PowerPoint slide if you have not already done so!

Enlightenment and the American Revolution Natural right Right that belongs to all humans from birth Rule of Law Government by Law. The rule of law implies that government authority may only be exercised in accordance with written laws, which were adopted through an established procedure.

The Philosophy of Unalienable Rights Advances John Locke (1632-1704) English philosopher; wrote Two Treatises of Government People are good and are born in a state of nature with certain unalienable rights Unalienable rights = rights that you are born with– they can’t be taken away from you (life, liberty, & property) People first lived in anarchy Needed a “social contract” = A society agrees to be governed by its general will. All individuals should be forced to abide by the general will because it represents what is best for the entire community. People gave up only SOME of their individual rights. Best govt = limited monarchy with an aristocracy. Government’s job = protect inalienable rights Rulers who violated these “natural” rights broke the social contract and could be overthrown. Jefferson used Locke’s ideas in the Declaration of Independence. He states we have unalienable rights (life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness). People have the right & the duty to overthrow a tyrannical govt.

English philosopher; wrote Leviathan Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) English philosopher; wrote Leviathan Believed man is basically evil People are violent for 3 reasons: competition (resources), diffidence (safety), and glory (pride & wealth) Humanity would destroy itself if there wasn’t a strong, absolute monarchy (Leviathan) to govern Govt is an agreement between the absolute monarch and the People Disagreed with “the divine right of kings.” Believed people signed a social contract to let govt protect them.

Enlightenment and the American Revolution From Wrongs to Rights! One great concept which drove the American Revolution against Great Britain in 1776 and defined the creation of the United States of America is the idea of obtaining “natural rights” for Americans. Warm Up: Create a bubble map using the term “natural rights.”

Enlightenment and the American Revolution Create a bubble map.

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French philosophe; authored The Spirit of the Laws Believed England’s constitutional monarchy was the “perfect” government Power is divided evenly between three branches of government = SEPARATION OF POWERS a. Legislative – Makes laws (Congress) b. Executive – Administers laws (President, army, etc.) c. Judicial – Interprets and applies laws. (Supreme Court and lesser courts.) Prevents abuse and protects individual rights because no branch has all of the power = “Power should be a check to power.” Each branch is subject to checks and balances. The U.S. Constitution incorporates the ideas of Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances

Voltaire (1694-1778) French philosophe; authored Philosophical Letters & Treatise on Toleration Argued for freedom of religion & speech. Used public opinion to fight injustice. “I do not agree with a word you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.” Believed that the perfect government was an “enlightened monarch” = rulers study govt theories and protect the peoples’ rights His ideas are incorporated in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) French philosophe; wrote the “Social Contract.” Believed that people were born good, but were corrupted by the environment, bad government, and laws. Best government = Republican Democracy that eliminates aristocratic privileges & titles POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY = people give government its authority to reign (rule)

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) English women’s rights advocate Wrote A Vindication of the the Rights of Woman Argued for a true republican democracy that gave women equal rights also Women should have the right to vote, hold political office, and receive an education Education should stress rationality A woman should be able to decide what was in her own best interest – not her husband or father Her daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley wrote the novel, Frankenstein

Adam Smith (1723-1790) Scottish economist; authored The Wealth of Nations” Natural laws underly all areas of human life, including politics, economics, & science The state should not interfere in economic matters. Govt has 3 jobs Defend against invasion Protect citizens from injustice Maintain public works that the people can’t individually afford Democracy = best form of govt because it supports free enterprise, capitalism, and laissez-faire economics Free enterprise = people market their ideas with little govt interference; govt’s job is to help businesses & ensure safety in the work place Laissez-faire = govt keeps its hands off & lets the forces of competition determine market prices Capitalism = investors loan businesses money to get started; they receive a percentage of the profits = capital. Investors re-invest the capital to create more businesses. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution states that government’s job is to promote the general welfare and to provide for the common defense. The 4th and 5th amendments of the U.S. Bill of Rights protect individuals from unwarranted search & seizure.

Growth of Constitutional Government Government whose power is defined and limited by law. British Constitution = Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, all Acts of Parliament and unwritten traditions that protect citizens’ rights. British government not totally democratic. Oligarchy Government in which the ruling power belongs to a few people.

Causes of the American Revolution SEVEN YEARS WAR (French and Indian War) Conflict between the British and the French in their North American colonies Fought over Ohio River Valley and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Native Americans fought on the French side. American colonists fought on the British side. British win. War EXPENSIVE! All French territory in Canada transferred to the British.

Causes of the American Revolution (page 539) The War Begins Foreign Support and British Defeat.

Causes of the American Revolution British taxed colonies to pay for French and Indian War. Stamp Act (1765) – required that certain printed materials such as legal documents, newspapers and playing cards, carry a stamp saying that a tax had been paid to Britain. Tea Act – Tea could be purchased only from British merchants and was also taxed. Boston Tea Party Intolerable Acts – closed Boston Harbor, rescinded Massachusetts charter, quartered troops in private homes. Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Drafted by Thomas Jefferson People had the right to “alter or abolish unjust governments.” (Locke) Popular sovereignty All government power comes from the people. King had trampled the peoples’ natural rights. Colonists now had the right to rebel

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Unalienable Rights From the “Declaration of Independence” written by Thomas Jefferson in 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.”

Declaration of Independence Grievances against England listed in the Declaration of Independence. 1. Define unalienable rights. 2. What is one example of such a right? 3. Create a Circle Map of some of the Grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence. Be sure to include the date that the Declaration was signed!

Declaration of Independence Text of the Declaration of Independence – http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/bdsdcc:@field(DOCID+@lit(bdsdcc02101)) Paraphrase of the Declaration of Independence http://www.mrsrobertson.com/moderndecofind.htm

The Constitution = Describes the structure of government The Constitution = Describes the structure of government. Defines the powers & responsibilities of government and the citizens’ rights. Used ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau and Voltaire Created a Federal Republic Government in which power is divided between the national, or federal government, and the states. Separation of powers Bill of Rights added later. Federalist Papers – Writing campaign to convince American citizens to ratify the new Constitution George Washington – first President of the United States of America.

Bill of Rights In a number of states, Federalists won the battle over ratification only because they had offered to support several amendments (change) to the Constitution designed to promote citizen’s rights. These 10 amendments came to be called the Bill of Rights.

Preamble Introduction to the Constitution States the goals of government Reflects the idea that the people give govt its authority List the 6 goals of the Constitution that are described in the Preamble

Draw the chart on the next page. Title the Chart “U.S. Bill of Rights” Use the hand-out on the Bill of Rights to complete the chart Be sure to include all rights that are listed for each amendment Draw a picture to illustrate each amendment

Summary of the right(s) that is(are) guaranteed Bill of Rights Amendment Summary of the right(s) that is(are) guaranteed Illustration 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th