Transcript The Enlightenment and the American Revolution 1700-1800

The Enlightenment and the American
Revolution
(1700-1800)
Chapter Focus: How did the
Enlightenment thinkers inspire
revolutionaries to push for radical
changes in government and society?
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason
Focus: What effects did Enlightenment philosophers have
on government and society?
Scientific Revolution Sparks the
Enlightenment
• Natural Law – rules
discoverable by reason*


Use for scientific problems
Use to understand social,
economic, and political
problems
• Leads to Enlightenment*

a revolution in thinking*
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Thomas Hobbes*
• people were naturally
cruel, greedy, and
selfish*
• Must be strictly
controlled* by a
powerful government
(Absolute Monarchy)

Social Contract
• Agreement to give
freedom for organized
society
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

John Locke*
• People are moral & reasonable*
• Best government had limited rights and
protected Natural Rights*


Rights that belong to all humans from birth*
Life, liberty, & property
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Philosophes*
• French for “philosopher”, French thinker who
desired reform in society during the
Enlightenment*

Montesquieu

Voltaire

Rousseau
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Montesquieu*
• The Spirit of Laws

Separation of Powers*
• Three branches
 Legislative
 Executive
 Judicial

Checks and Balances
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Voltaire*
• Criticized powerful
institutions for being
unjust
• Verbally attacked
corrupt officials and
inequality*
• Supported freedom of
speech
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of
Reason

Rousseau*
• The Social Contract


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
People are good but
corrupted by society*
Despised political and
economic oppression
Society is restrictive
Majority- wins out
Individual Interest- may
lose
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason
Women Challenge the Philosophes
 Mary Wollstonecraft*
• “A Vindication of the Rights of
Women”
 Equal Education for girls
and boys*
• Argued that education
would level the playing
field, between the two
17.1 – Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Laissez Faire* (Hands OFF)
• Business operate without government
interference*
• Opposite of mercantilism
17.1 – Philosophy in the
Age of Reason
New Economic Thinking
 Adam Smith*
• The Wealth of Nations
• Free market*
Regulated by Supply and
Demand
 Laissez Faire
 But government should
protect*

17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Focus: As Enlightenment ideas spread across Europe,
what cultural and political changes took place?
New Ideas Challenge Society
 Change from Medieval thinking
• Ideas Such as:
 Divine Right
 The Class System
 Heavenly reward for earthly suffering
• Now considered irrational thoughts
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread
• Censored writers of the
Enlightenment

Censorship- restricting access to ideas
and information*
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread

Salons – informal social gathering at
which writers, artists, philosophes,
and others exchanged ideas. Started
with noblewoman in Paris*
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas
Spread
Art
 Early 1600’s Baroque* style was
popular
• Huge, colorful, exciting*
• Action*
 Battles/Saints/Grand
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas
Spread

Rococo Style* - unlike
baroque
• Light, elegant, charming*
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread

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Enlightened Despots – absolute
ruler who used his or her power to
bring about political and social
change*
Frederick the Great*
Enlightenment Ideas
• Religious tolerance*
• Reorganized government and laws
• Reduced torture*
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread
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Catherine the Great – Russia*
Enlightenment Ideas:
• Abolished torture*
• Granted religious tolerance*
• Criticized serfdom*
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread
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
Joseph II - Austria (Hapsburg)
Enlightenment Ideas:
• Religious equality (Jews, Protestants)
• Ended censorship
• Improved education and care for the poor
17.2 – Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Majority of Europeans*

Still serf/ poor

Untouched at first by enlightenment*

1800’s- war/political upheaval/
economy
• Finally transform peasant life
17.3 Birth of the American Republic
Focus: How did ideas of the Enlightenment lead to the
independence and founding of the United States of
America?

Stamp Act 1765:
• Passed by Parliament to help gain
back the cost of war
• Taxes on paper goods
(newspapers, pamphlets, etc.)


Lead to the plea
“no taxation
without
representation”
ResponseParliament repeals
• Passed
Declaratory Act
1766- Complete
Authority

Colonists Rebel
• Boston Massacre British soldiers open fire
on a crowd that was
throwing stones and
snowballs,
five colonists were killed
• Boston Tea Party – a
handful of colonists
dressed up as Indians
and hurled a cargo of
British Tea into Boston
Harbor to protest a tax
on tea
• Fighting broke out all
over
• Representatives of each
colony gathered
 Continental Congress
Continental Congress
• Leaders of each colony met to take action
• Included:
 John Adams - Massachusetts
 George Washington - Virginia
Colonists Rebel

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
On going tensions
explode
Lexington-Concord
• Battles
• Start*
American
Revolution (1776-
1783),
War for Colonies
Independence from
England, Colonies & France
VS England
17.3 Birth of the American Republic
Colonists Rebel

Revolutionary War
• Colonists willing to fight at
any cost

The Declaration of
Independence
17.3 Birth of the American Republic
The Declaration of
Independence


Thomas Jefferson- Principal
writer
• Virginia (3rd)
Used the ideas of Locke (Natural
Rights)
• Life
• Liberty
• Property
17.3 Birth of the American Republic
The Declaration of
Independence

Locke’s idea of Popular
Sovereignty
• Power comes from the
people

July 4, 1776- Adopted
Declaration
• Independence Day
17.3 Birth of the American Republic
American Revolution
Continues
Odds stacked against
colonists:
•
•
•
•
1/3 Loyalists (Britain)
Lacked military resources
Little money
Lacked strong plan
American Revolution Continues
 Turning Point:
• Although colonists lost many battles
• One key battle turned the tide
• Battle of Saratoga

First American victory

Treaty of Paris – Peace Treaty
made final in 1783 that ended the
American Revolution

Created a federal
republic
• Power divided
between
• The Federal
(National)
Government & State
Government
• Separation of
Powers

Three branches of
government



Legislative Branch
• Congress
Executive Branch
• President
Judicial Branch
• Supreme Court

Bill of Rights
• First ten
amendments to the
U.S.
Constitution;
protections of
basic rights for
individuals.