The Enlightenment & the American Revolution

1. The Enlightenment & the American Revolution Ms. Garratt

2. Locke • Wrote Two Treatises of Government after witnessing the Glorious Revolution. • Believed human nature was essentially good. • Believed that all humans were born with natural rights of life, liberty & property

3. Locke • Governments were established through the consent of the governed & a social contract. • Purpose of gov was to protect those rights • If gov abused it’s authority as Britain had done people had a right to overthrow the gov

4. Hobbes • Influenced by the English Civil War • Human nature was wicked & life was like state of war • Social Contract req’d people to give up liberties to an absolute monarch. • In return they gain order & security. • Wrote the Leviathan

5. Linkage of the Scientific Revolution to the Enlightenment • Belief in Progress • The successes of the Scientific Revolution gave philosophes the confidence that human reason could solve social problems. • More secular Perspective • Scientists made discoveries that contradicted & challenged religious teachings. • Importance of the Individual • People turned away from the Church & royalty for guidance - looked to themselves. • Encouraged to use their own abilities & reason to problem solve

6. Core Values of the Philosophes • 1. Reason – truth could be discovered through reason • 2. Happiness – rejected medieval belief that people should concentrate on finding happiness in the hereafter rather than finding contentment & joy in this world • 3. Progress – Humankind could improve • 4. Liberty – called for liberties achieved from the Glorious Revolution in the English Bill of Rights • 5. Nature – Believed that what was natural was good

7. “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it” Voltaire

8. Voltaire • Prolific writer who used satire against his enemies. • Attacked clergy, aristocrats & gov • Fought for religious freedom & speech. • Fought superstition, intolerance and prejudice. • He corresponded directly with many rulers • Was jailed & exiled for his beliefs. • Real name Francois Marie Arouet

9. Locke’s Chief Influence • Principles include: • Natural rights • Purpose of gov • Justification to overthrow gov • Author of the Two Treatise on Government

10. Montesquieu • Believed the best organization of gov included: • Separation of powers & • Checks and balances • SOP was by itself a C/B • Both ideas are part of the US Constitution. • Wrote Spirit of the Laws

11. “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”Rousseau

12. Rousseau • Civilization corrupted man. • Only good gov had to be freely formed & guided by the “general will” of society. • Favored “direct democracy” in which individuals agree to give up some freedoms in favor of the common good. • Consent of government • Titles of nobility should be abolished • Influenced French Revolution • Wrote the Social Contract

13. Beccaria • Interested in the justice system • Condemned torture & irregular procedings. • Favored: • Speedy trial • Fair treatment • Punishment commensurate with the crime • Abolishing capital punishment

14. Wollstonecraft • Women were not treated fairly by most philosophes. • Wollstonecraft believed that women were entitled to an equal education. • Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women

15. How did Enlightenment Ideas Spread?

16. Diderot • Began publishing the Encyclopedia in 1751 • Censured by the Catholic Church & French gov • Enlightened despots, absolute rulers, were those willing to consider some reforms

17. Salons & Salonieres • Originated in 1600s • Noblewomen began inviting enlightenment philosophes in all fields to their homes • By the 1700s middle class women began holding salons. • Another way in which ideas were disseminated

18. Catherine the Great • Experimented with Enlightenment ideas • Communicated with Voltaire & Diderot. • Gave some rights to nobles • However she allied herself with nobles who opposed change. • Suppressed serf revolt • Never implemented reforms

19. Frederick the Great – King of Prussia • Religious freedom • Reduced censorship • Improved edu • Reformed justice system • Opposed serfdom but did not eliminate it because he needed support of wealthy landowners • Referred to himself as “1st servant of the state”

21. Joseph II • Dedicated reformer • Disguised himself so he could learn about people’s problems and improve them. • Hired qualified civil servants rather than nobles • Religious toleration • Ended censorship • Sold some church property to build hospitals • Abolished serfdom

22. Music, Literature and Architectural Changes during the Enlightenment

23. Baroque

24. Neoclassical

25. Baroque Music I’ll be Bach! • Johann Sebastian Bach • George Friedrich Handel • Dramatic Organ & choral music

26. Classical Music - Enlightenment • Composers • Joseph Haydn • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Ludwig van Beethoven • Lighter, more elegant music

27. Literature • Novels which had plots, suspense & character development. • Entertaining stories enjoyed by middle classes. • Written in language that was understood • Pamela represents Enlightenment value in that Pamela stood up to abusive authority

28. See New PPT for Impact of Enlightenment on the American colonies

29. Adam Smith – Free Trade • Leading physiocrat who opposed mercantilism. • Wrote Wealth of Nations which argued that natural forces of supply & demand should operate the economy. • Strong supporter of laissez-faire. • Encouraged individual initiative

30. Mercantilism • Government regulated economic policy based on the following beliefs: • Wealth was measured by the amount of gold/silver • Req’d that nations maintain favorable balance of trade. • Colonies were desired because they (1) provided raw materials and (2) markets for finished products. • Restrictive trade policies which were reflected in the Navigation Laws

31. Enlightenment Influences on the American Revolution • Navigation Acts • French-Indian War • Stamp Act • Boston Tea Party • Intolerable Acts • 1st Continental Congress • Lexington and Concord • Second Continental Congress • Dec of Independence • We hold these truths… • John Locke • Articles ..AOC weak • New Constitution • Federalism • C/B • SOP • B/R