Locke Montesquieu Rousseau
PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS AND FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT The Enlightenment The Enlightenment THE AGE OF REASON (c. 17th and 18th centuries) What was it? A cultural movement of intellectuals, a philosophical revolution centered in France and spreading throughout Europe and the colonies during the 1600s and 1700s. 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
Benjamin Franklin Thomas Denis Diderot John Locke Hobbes Sir Isaac Newton
Baruch Spinoza Pierre Bayle baron de Thomas Jean-Jacques Montesquieu Jefferson Rousseau 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 John Locke
1632-1704 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 Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu 1689-1755 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 Jean-Jacques Rousseau
1712-1778 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