1. Documents that Impacted the Enlightenment

2. Let’s get rid of old Medieval Ideas!
The Enlightenment
New Ways of Thinking
Scientific Revolution spurs rethinking of many ideas
Apply reason and natural law
Leads to the Enlightenment
A movement stressing reason and thought

3. Reading of Voltaire’s “L’orphelin de la Chine” (The Orphan of China) at Madame Geoffin’s house. By Anicet-Charles Lemonnier, 1755.

4. Background: The Magna Carta
King John of England badly damaged the reputation between Kings and Lords/Nobles
Lords/Nobles rebelled and forced the King to sign the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was designed to limited the power of the King
Contract between the King and nobles
Respect for individual rights and liberties
No taxes without consent
Right to trial by Jury
King had to follow the rule of law, not just what he wanted.

8. Comparing with U.S. Bill of Rights
Magna Carta, 1215
U.S. Bill of Rights, 1791
“No free man shall be imprisoned except by legal judgment of his peers”
“A freeman shall not have a odd sentence for a minor offense.”
“No king shall take the horses or wagons of any man”
Amendment #6 – Right to trial by jury
Amendment #8 – No unusual fines/sentences
Amendment #2 – No government shall take your right to own a firearm

9. The Magna Carta The Philosophers who took ideas from this document:
Voltaire
Individual Liberties
Locke
Social Contract between the people and the government
Montesquieu
Separation of powers

10. The Glorious Revolution
Which Philosopher influenced this event?
Locke
Unjust rulers can be overthrown
Voltaire
Freedom of Religion

11. The Glorious Revolution
King James used his Catholicism to rule
Parliament protested, so the king broke them apart
Parliament, the kings daughter and her husband William, overthrow King James for the sake of the Church of England (Protestantism)
The bloodless overthrow of King James II.
Led to the English Bill of Rights

12. The English Bill of Rights
England became a Constitutional Monarchy
Laws limited the ruler’s power
English Bill of Rights
Clear limits on royal power
No suspending laws
No taxes without consent from parliament
No banning freedom of speech
Citizens can petition the King

13. The English Bill of Rights
Which Philosopher influenced this event?
Locke
Government gets power from the people
Voltaire
Freedom of Thought (speech)
Montesquieu
Government needs to be controlled
Separation of Powers

14. Stop here, rest of docs are on Amer. Rev. ppt.

15. Declaration of Independence
Colonists were upset about treatment by the King George
Taxation without Representation
Wanted same rights as British
Restrictions on Trade
Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson
Reasons why Colonists can break away from Britain because of abused power
King had broken the Social Contract
Leads to the American Revolution
Colonists break away from Britain and form the United States

16. Declaration of Independence
Which Philosopher influenced this document?
Locke
Natural Rights: Life, Liberty, Property
Government gets power from the people
If unjust ruler, people can overthrow

17. Declaration of Independence shows the drafting committee presenting its work to the Congress. By John Trumbull, 1819.

18. The Constitution The framework for the American Government
Written by James Madison – father of the Constitution
The Federal System – power shared between federal and state governments
Three Branches – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
Checks and Balances - to keep from having too much power
Example: president vetoing a law
Bill of Rights – protect individual rights of citizens

19. The Constitution Which Philosophers influenced this document? Locke
Power comes from the People
Representative democracy
Limits government powers
Montesquieu
Separation of Powers
Three Branches
Checks and Balances
Federal System (balance between state and national governments)
Rousseau
Direct Democracy
Public elections

20. Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments to the constitution
Protected the basic rights of individual citizens
Speech, Religion, Press, Petition, Assembly
Own a Gun
No Housing of Troops
No Search and Seizure (without a warrant)
Due Process
Rights in Criminal Cases
Rights in Civil Cases
No Cruel or Unusual Punishment
Rights of the People
Rights of the State

21. Which Philosophers influenced this document?
Locke
Power comes from the People
Limits government powers
Voltaire
Freedom speech, religion
Rousseau
Individual freedoms
Beccaria
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
No Torture

22. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Role of Philosophes
Not activists, but inspire major revolutions
Belief in Progress
Scientific breakthroughs show ability to improve society
More Secular Outlook
New knowledge leads people to question religion
Criticism of Christianity
Importance of the Individual
More emphasis on rights and abilities
Reason becomes main concept or philosophers, rulers