Enlightenment
Ideas of Enlightenment Thought:
- The universe can be understood through reason
- Human experience is the basis for understanding the truth
- Religion has no place in the understanding of the physical universe
John Locke (1630s-1700s)
Locke believed people could learn and improve themselves through their experiences
Believed in the idea that all people are born with 3 basic natural rights: life, liberty, and property
and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights
A government’s power comes from the people
John Locke P. 485 Locke's Two Treatises of Civil
Government were published after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
In this work Locke gives us a theory of natural law and natural rights which he uses to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate civil governments, and to argue for the legitimacy of revolt against tyrannical governments.
John Locke Locke wrote on a variety of other topics
Among the most important of these is toleration.
Henry VIII had created a Church of England when he broke with Rome. This Church was the official religion of England. Catholics and dissenting Protestants were subject to legal prosecution.
In a "Letter Concerning Toleration" and several defenses of that letter Locke argues for a separation between church and state.
John Locke His Ideas:
Natural rights—life, liberty, and property
Right to rebel
For the individual use reason to search
after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities.
John Locke Impact: Fundamental to
U. S. Declaration of Independence
Voltaire
Used satire to attack the French government and clergy
Fought for tolerance, reason, and the freedoms of religion and speech
Used his writings to defend his beliefs
“I may disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire
Voltaire
In his book Philosophical Letters, he was impressed with the British political system of 3 branches of government
He became famous as a champion of religious freedom and freedom of thought
Voltaire
His Ideas:
Freedom of thought and expression
Religious freedom
Voltaire Impact:
Guaranteed in U.S. Bill of Rights, & French Declaration or Rights of Man, European monarchs reduce or eliminate censorship
European monarchs reduce persecution
Rousseau
Wrote “The Social Contract” in which he discussed the role of the people and government, and that all people were equal
Called for the end of nobility which helped to spark the French Revolution
Rousseau
People are naturally good, but that environment, education, and laws corrupt them
Good government must be based on popular sovereignty
Did not trust reason Opposed a strong
government which set him apart from others
Rousseau Most philosophies disliked
absolute monarchy. They favored
enlightened despotism The absolute monarch
would rule but according to the principles of the Enlightenment
His ideas on government and individual freedom became most influential during the later years of the Enlightenment
Rousseau
His Ideas:
Legitimate power comes from the people
Rousseau
Impact: Fundamental
to U.S. Declaration of Independence
U.S. Constitution
American Revolution
The Causes
The American people were strongly independent.
They wanted to do things for themselves. Great Britain was a long way away.
The American people didn't want people an ocean away telling them how to live their lives.
Building of the Revolution The road to revolution built slowly
over time. Many events fed the growing desire of the thirteen colonies for independence.
French and Indian War
The British government decided to make the American colonies pay a large share of the war debt from the French and Indian War.
The Colonists
Loyalists Patriots They wanted to
remain loyal to Britain and thought they would eventually get representation in Parliament
They resisted British taxation and felt the colonies should declare independence
Proclamation of 1763
This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains.
While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order.
Taxes
The British tried to collect taxes that the American people considered harsh.
Sugar Act The Sugar Act taxed
sugar made in the colonies or any plantation in America, coffee, molasses, rum, and wines.
Quartering Act
Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary.
Stamp Act
The stamp tax was a tax that was imposed on every document or newspaper printed or used in the colonies.
Townshend Acts These taxes were
imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea.
Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax… leading to more troops in Boston
This Act assigned duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. This led to some “tar and feathering.”
Boston Massacre
The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston.
This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred.
Tea Act
To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.
Boston Tea Party A group of
colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts These were passed in response to
the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor.
“Taxation without Representation" The American people also
thought that they should be able to send their own people to Britain's Parliament or at least vote for Britain's lawmakers.
The combination of the harsh taxes and the lack of an American voice in Parliament gave rise to the famous phrase "taxation without representation."
Liberty
The colonists called for an independent America, colonies free from British rule and interference.
Preparing for War
Americans started stockpiling guns and ammunition in violation of British laws.
Their defense of such a stockpile led to shots being fired .
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World
Lexington and Concord
In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
Press
Captain John Parker
"Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
In the end, the American Revolution grew out of increasing restrictions placed upon the colonies by the British. It is estimated that only
one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion.
One-third continued to side with the British.
The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain.
Articles of Confederation
This plan was adopted in 1777 but wasn’t ratified until 1781
It contained : A central government A one-house Congress Each state had one vote
Congress could declare war and make peace
It could deal with other nation and settle disputes between the states
Articles of Confederation
The plan was weak… it was intentional
Americans feared a strong central government
It couldn’t enforce laws (approved by 9 states)
It couldn’t levy taxes It couldn’t regulate trade There was no chief executive The only courts were the state courts
Articles of Confederation
The Articles were designed to place the power into the individual states
They were seen as closer to the people and popular will
They feared a repressive government However, Americans realized that this
was not the way to build an effective and stable government
The Constitution
People were unhappy with the weak government
Delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles
They realized that it would not work
They decided to write a constitution
The Constitution
They unanimously chose George Washington as presiding officer
They adopted a federal system of government
The central or federal government could: Declare war Raise armies Make treaties Coin money Regulate trade with
foreign governments
Three Branches of Government Executive Branch, president,
enforced laws
Legislative Branch, Congress, made laws
Judicial Branch, federal courts, interpreted the laws
Each branch acted as a check on the power of the others
It was ratified and went into effect in 1789
Bill of Rights
Some Americans didn’t like the Constitution
They feared it didn’t protect the rights of individuals
As a result, ten amendments were added known as the Bill of Rights
Freedoms guaranteed:
ReligionSpeechPressAssemblyPetition
Freedom from Illegal search and seizureThe right to a jury trial
Effects
It was a major world event It put into the practice the ideas of
political philosophers of the Enlightenment
The American democratic government was a landmark in world history and an important influence
Because of the American Revolution, it gave people still under absolute monarchies and privileged classes… HOPE!
French Revolution
Napoleon
SSWH14 The student will analyze the Age of Revolutions and Rebellions. c. Explain Napoleon’s rise to power, the
role of geography in his defeat, and the consequences of France’s defeat for Europe
Napoleon
Latin America
Latin America Latin America was the first colonial area to collectively gain
independence. The region was inspired by the American and French Revolutions.
Leaders used new found nationalism to unite their countries and overthrow the Europeans: Toussaint l’Ouverture (Haiti) Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Mexico) Simon Bolivar (Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and
Venezuela) Jose de San Martin (Argentine, Chile, Peru)
However, most of the new Latin American countries still retain heavy Spanish influence from their colonial days (the language and Catholic Religion).
Causes There are three reasons for
the rise of former colonies of European empires as new nations: spread of Enlightenment ideas
by those educated in Europe decline of the power of the
empires the rise of nationalism in the
colonies.
Toussaint L'Ouverture
1st successful revolt occurred in the French colony of Saint Domingue
When the French Revolution broke out, free mulattoes demanded same rights as French settlers
The settlers resisted
Toussaint L'Ouverture
1791: mulattoes and slaves joined together under the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture, a freed slave, and staged a bloody revolt
They won Only successful
revolution led by slaves anywhere in the world
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Napoleon sent troops in but lost
Saint Domingue gained its independence under the name of Haiti
It became the 1st independent country in Latin America
Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla 1810, Father Hidago led an
army of Indian peasants against the Spanish
He won some victories but was captured and executed
Hidalgo represented the wave of the future.
His compassion for the underdog, his hatred of injustice and his intelligent and creative approach to economic development all contribute to his well-deserved title as “Father of Mexico.”
Jose de San Martin
One of the first revolts against Spain was in La Plata 1810
Creole rebels took control General Sam Martin led the
fighting Six years later, independence
for what is now called Argentina Peru became independent in
1821 With the help of Bernardo
O’Higgins, gained independence of Chile 1818
Independence for the rest of South America came only after a long, bloody civil war.
Simon Bolivar Nicknamed “the Liberator”
Started the revolt in Venezuela 1810
Became the president of a new nation called Gran Columbia
Included were Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela
Independence in Latin America San Martin ran the Spanish out of
Peru Peru was independent in 1821 Simon Bolivar took charge and drove
the Spanish out for good 1824 The following year, the upper part of
Peru was named for him… Bolivia
