Unit 4: Enlightenment & Revolution

1. Unit 4: Enlightenment & Revolution The Enlightenment & American Revolution

2. Unit 4: Enlightenment & A. Rev The Enlightenment

3. What was it? • Philosophical movement / focused on reason • Using the scientific method in all areas of study • Natural law - rules of conduct through reason - could help explain aspects of humanity • Better understand society, politics, & economics

4. Fathers of the Enlightenment • Thomas Hobbes • Wrote Leviathan – said ppl are naturally cruel, greedy, & selfish • Needed to be controlled to avoid chaos • Ppl should enter into a social contract – agreement to give up freedom for an organized society • Believed in powerful govt – absolute monarch

5. Fathers of the Enlightenment • John Locke • Thought ppl were decent & had natural rights – belonged to all humans from birth • Ppl formed govts to protect these rights • Best govt was limited & liked by all • Said ppl should have right to take out govt if it fails or violates ppl’s rights • Idea that people were molded by their experiences • The environment shapes the person

6. The Philosophes • Enlightenment thought flourished in the 1700s • French Enlightenment thinkers used science ideas to understand/improve society • Use of reason • These thinkers called philosophes

7. Thinkers of the Enlightenment • Montesquieu – studied govts • Wrote Spirit of the Laws in 1748 • Govt best divided into 3 branches • Separation of powers, checks and balances… • Beliefs influenced framers of the Constitution

8. Thinkers of the Enlightenment • Voltaire: criticized Christianity; focused on tolerance& inequality; fought for freedom of speech • Diderot: wrote Encyclopedia, set of 28 books that spread the ideas of the Enlightenment.

9. Thinkers of the Enlightenment • Rousseau: believed ppl were naturally good & were corrupted by evils of society • Wrote The Social Contract – society’s control of behavior should be limited / only freely elected govts should have control • Good of the community was most important • Women’s were not equal to men • Had natural rights, but limited to home and family • Women began to protest – mid 1700s • Called for equal education & ability to make own decisions

10. New Economic Thinking • French economic thinkers = physiocrats • Rational econ sys based on natural laws of econ • Rejected mercantilism (govt regulation of economy) • Laissez faire – letting businesses operate w/little or no govt interference – a laid back approach • Supported free trade & opposed tariffs • Adam Smith – Scottish economist • Wrote The Wealth of Nations – wanted free market to regulate business activity • Supported laissez faire but also wanted govt protection

11. Unit 4: The Enlightenment & A. Revolution Spread of the Enlightenment

12. Ideas Challenge Society • Heart of the Enlightenment = Paris, France • Spread through upper class bc of books • Most ppl wanted change & a just society • Defenders of old ways used censorship – restriction on access to ideas/info – in writings • Philosophes used fiction as loop hole • Ideas spread in salons • Social gatherings • Put on by women

13. Arts/Lit Reflect New Ideas • Style of art changed with Enlightenment in 16 & 1700s • Art used to be baroque – large, ornate, colorful, battles… - during time of Louis XIV • Rococo style developed – charming, lighter, elegant, flowers, pastels • Big w/ upper class

14. Arts/Lit Reflect New Ideas • New forms of music – classical • Ballets & operas • Sebastian Bach • Mozart • New literature & bigger audience • Middle class • More novels

15. Enlightened Despots • Monarchs divided btwn absolutism and enlightenment ways • Enlightened despots – absolute rulers who brought change • Frederick the Great (Prussia, 1740-1786) • Tight control but worked for common good • Reduce torture, free press, simplified laws, religious tolerance

16. Enlightened Despots • Catherine the Great (Russia; 1760s) • Believed in equality & liberty • Abolished torture, est religious tolerance • Still wanted tight control • Maria Theresa (Austria) • Wanted better life for peasants • Joseph II (Austria) – most radical • Religious equality, no censorship, no serfdom

17. Slow Change for the Majority • Peasant life didn’t change much • Very slow change • Many resisted change • Eventual transformation in 1800s

18. Unit 4: Enlightenment & Amer Revolution The American Revolution & the Birth of the American Republic

19. Britain Becomes Global Power • Controlled trade – great location • Ppl wanted to put businesses there– climate & trade opportunities • Usually won conflicts / monopolize slave trade • Large territory – became United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 / Ireland joined 1801 • George III – 1760 became king (60 yrs)

20. 13 Colonies Mid-1700s • Britain controlled – mercantilism • Wealthy landowners & merchants controlled govt & society • Colonists wanted rights of English citizens • Many felt need for life separate from England

21. Colonist Discontent • French & Indian War put Britain in debt • George thought colonists should pay • Increased taxes: • Sugar Act (1764): import taxes • Stamp Act (1765): taxes on printed materials • Colonists oppose • “No taxation without representation”

22. Colonist Discontent • Boston Massacre – March 1770 • Colonists throw snowball at British guard • British officers/soldiers gathered as reinforcements • Someone yelled “FIRE!” – British soldiers fired into crowd • 5 people died & colonists named it the Boston Massacre

23. Colonist Discontent • Boston Tea Party – colonists dump tea into Boston Harbor • Col reps met in Philly to decide what to do • John Adams & George Washington there • Led to war: • Lexington & Concord was start of the Rev War • Washington led the Continental Army (patriots)

24. Colonist Discontent • Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Britain • Thomas Jefferson: main writer of DoI • Reflected Locke’s views: “life, liberty, & property” • Popular sovereignty: government of the people • July 4, 1776 – Declaration adopted

25. The Revolution Continues • 1/3 of colonists = loyalists (supporters of Britain) • France supported colonists after Battle of Saratoga in 1777 • 1781 – war comes to an end at Yorktown, VA • Treaty of Paris ended the war

26. A New Constitution • 1st Constitution was Articles of Confederation • Many thought too weak; too much state control • Gathered again in Philly in 1787 to fix the problems • James Madison, Ben Franklin, Washington • Developed the Constitution • Created a federal republic with divided power • Separation of powers

27. A New Constitution • Ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the development of the Constitution • Bill of Rights included before the states would ratify or approve the document • Adopted in 1789