PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS AND FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The Enlightenment
Locke Montesquieu Rousseau
THE AGE OF REASON (c. 17th and 18th centuries)
The Enlightenment
A cultural movement of intellectuals, a philosophical revolution centered in France and spreading throughout Europe and the colonies during the 1600s and 1700s.
What was it?
Why? Advances in scientific discovery and
understanding (Scientific Revolution) led to a transformation of thought and interpretation of the world.
Other triggers:
Absolutist monarchies of England, France, and Spain Corruption and powerful influence of the Church Economic changes bringing the emergence of a new
class of merchants and artisans – demand for hard work and individualism and more power and influence in society and government (emerging middle class)
Urbanization of European society Europe was changing; the monarchies and Church
were not keeping pace
Enlightenment Thinkers
John Locke
Baruch Spinoza
Sir Isaac Newton
Pierre Bayle Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Denis Diderot
baron de Montesquieu
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Hobbes
Basic Enlightenment Ideas
Reason rather than emotion should guide decision-making; leads to absence of intolerance and can help solve social problems.
Natural laws regulate human society Social progress is inevitable Liberty is the natural state of mankind; attempts to
limit liberty are violations of natural law Emphasis on tolerance, opposed superstition and
bigotry; argued for full religious tolerance
1632-1704
John Locke
Key Arguments
People are born with natural rights (“life, liberty, and property”)
People form governments to preserve their rights Government is based on the consent of the people Government is a contract with the people to uphold
their rights If government does not uphold such a contract, the
people can alter or abolish the government
1689-1755
Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu
Key Arguments
The ideal government is based on a separation of powers
Powers are divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Separation of powers protects the rights of the people by preventing one branch from gaining control of society
1712-1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Key Arguments
The ruler of a state does not have sovereign power The general will of an entire community is the source
of power Rulers are the servants of the community Failure to carry out the people’s will is grounds for
removal All communities live according to a social contract
that looks out for the rights of the whole as well as the individual
*All pictures come from wikipedia.org
Top Related