History Leading to the Enlightenment

1. Standard 7-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of absolute monarchies and constitutional government in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 7-2.1 Summarize the essential characteristics of the limited government in England following the Glorious Revolution and the unlimited governments in France and Russia, including some of the restraints placed upon a limited government’s power and how authoritarian and totalitarian systems are considered unlimited governments. (P, H)   7-2.2 Summarize the ideas of the Enlightenment that influenced democratic thought and social institutions throughout the world, including the political philosophies of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu. (P, H) 7-2.3 Outline the role and purposes of a constitution, including such functions as defining a relationship between a people and their government, describing the organization of government and the characteristics of shared powers, and protecting individual rights and promoting the common good. (P, H) History Leading to the Enlightenment In Europe during the 1600s and 1700s ideas over who should rule the people start to change. These ideas were influenced by the _________ Revolution.

2. Identify the 7 Continents North and South America; Europe and Asia; Africa; Australia; Antarctica

3. Applying Scientific Reasoning to Everyday Life • After plague and war ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages, Europeans began to try to appreciating life and questioning their existence. • The Renaissance encouraged new ways of thinking about religion and government. • At the same time the Age of Discovery made people of Europe want to explore the world and find new things.

4. Age of Reason and the Scientific Revolution • From 1473-1794 • European scientists such as Copernicus and Isaac Newton began using science to explain things in life. • For a century Europeans had turned to Christian religion to explain the reason why things happened. • Simply believing in God’s will for why things happened • European Rulers controlled countries because they believed God’s will gave them divine right to rule. • Science began to actually demonstrate that things could be explained through experimentation and the Scientific Method.

5. The Triumph or Reason • Using the scientific method, Europeans of the 1600s and 1700s developed new ideas about society. • Because of scientific discoveries European thinkers began to apply science to society. • Science had proven that the physical universe followed natural laws and could use this process to solve ____________ problems. • Thinking rationally, not simply saying it happens because God willed it, but instead looking for what caused it. • Divine ideas based on tradition should be put aside and a method or orderly way of collecting and analyzing evidence. • The Scientific Method

6. Moving Toward Limited Government • In 1215 English Nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta which established the idea of limited government. • This meant that English rulers could no longer rule with total power (absolute) over the people. • While they could claim that God had given them divine right, they now could no longer do everything they wanted without answering to the English nobility. • In the 1200s King Edward I called a group of the English nobility to help make laws this group was called Parliament • These meetings would be the beginning of representative government or the people having a voice in government.

7. Identify Great Britain which is also known as the United Kingdom Great Britain is made up of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland

8. English Civil War to the English Restoration • In 1625 England began on a path to Civil War • King Charles I had become king, he tried to eliminate Parliament’s influence over the king and rule by divine right. • Because he felt he could do as he pleased, Parliament passed the Petition of Rights in 1628 to ban the king from doing things with out the consent of Parliament. • 1642, Charles ignores the Petition and Civil War breaks out, Parliament wins and Charles is executed. • After 18 years, of arguing and stalemates between the nobility, Parliament’s rule failed. • A newly elected Parliament restored the monarchy and placed Charles’ son Charles II on the throne. • The return of monarchy in England is called the Restoration.

9. The English Restoration to the Glorious Revolution • In 1685 Charles II dies, his brother James becomes king. • James II is a Catholic, when his wife has a son, Parliament, made up primarily of Anglican protestants (a form of Christianity), fears that England will be forced back to Catholicism. • They feared this would return England to a Catholic absolute monarchy. • 1688 Parliament invites James II’s protestant daughter Mary and her husband William to take the throne. • James II abdicates the throne without a fight; William and Mary arrive to rule without bloodshed, this is called the Glorious Revolution. • In order to take the throne William and Mary must agree to sign the English Bill of Rights of 1689, it forever limits the power of the monarchs. • From now on Kings and Queens rule England as limited monarchs.

10. Constitutional Monarchy • The Bill of Rights of 1869 ended the idea of divine right in England. • It helped create a constitutional monarchy which is a form of limited government. • It built on the idea of representative government while protecting the basic rights and freedoms of the people. • Trial by jury • Right to speak freely • Right of citizens to keep arms

11. The Enlightenment • During the 1700s, European thinkers began to rely on scientific and logical reasoning to solve problems and make life better. • They saw reason as light that exposed mistakes and helped solve problems to make life better. • Political thinkers began to use scientific thinking to look at government and society. • They claimed that natural law applied to everyone. • This law was the key of understanding government. • Two English thinkers used natural law to develop ideas about how government should work. • They were Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

12. Thomas Hobbes • English thinker and believer in natural law. • Believed life was nasty, brutish, and short. • Believed people were selfish and violent and could not be trusted to make their own decisions. • They needed a strong leader to protect them against themselves. • An Absolute monarch was needed.

13. John Locke • English thinker who believed in natural law. • He believed that people were good, but were shaped by their experiences. • He believed every man was born with natural rights of life, liberty, and property. • People guarded these rights through a social contract. • This is an agreement between the ruler and the people; the people give up some of their power to be ruled for the benefit of society.

14. Compare and ContrastHobbes and Locke

15. The Enlightenment Philosophes • Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire. • During the 1700s France became the major center of the Enlightenment • Political philosophers' began to be called by the French name “Philosophe”. • They believed in freedom of religion and individual rights to liberty • There ideas will influence the creation of the US Constitution

16. Identify: France and Great Britain

17. France • France is often considered the home of the Enlightenment because so many “enlightened” thinkers came from France. • Many French thinkers became fans of England’s Glorious Revolution. • France was ruled by an absolute monarchy that was not well liked by the people of France

18. Montesquieu • French noble, with the title of Baron. • Believed that England’s style of Government was best because it had a separation of powers • This means that each branch had equal power over each other, so one branch could not become too powerful and threaten the rights of the people. • He believed in a three branch system • Executive, Legislative, and Judicial • A system of “Checks and Balances”

19. Voltaire • French • Considered the most brilliant of all the French Philosophes • He had a strong dislike of the influence that religion had on government. • Especially the Church keeping knowledge from people in order to maintain control • He believed in a strong separation of church and state • He was also for freedom of religion • Believing that government should not force a state chosen religion on its citizens • He strongly supported freedom of speech • “I do not agree with one word you say, but I will fight to the death your right to speak it!”

20. Rousseau • French • Thought that the earlier Enlightenment thinkers relied too much on reason • He believed emotions and feelings also needed to be considered. • He believed that people were good but civilization corrupted them. • To prevent this he believed people should give up luxury and live closer to nature • Government should be by a social contract but be governed by the people that enacted the majority’s will.

21. Standard 7-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of absolute monarchies and constitutional government in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 7-2.1 Summarize the essential characteristics of the limited government in England following the Glorious Revolution and the unlimited governments in France and Russia, including some of the restraints placed upon a limited government’s power and how authoritarian and totalitarian systems are considered unlimited governments. (P, H) Absolutism Many of Europe’s monarchs claimed to rule by the will of ___. They claimed _____ _____ saying they were chose by ___ to rule. Some tried to change their government to accept Enlightenment ideas and tried to modernize or westernize. However, they did not want to give up any power. These leaders were called: “Enlightened Despots”. Others did not change and continued to rule as totalitarian rulers.

22. King Louis XIV • Ruled ______ for 72 years • Called himself the “Sun King”. • Because he viewed himself as controlling everything under the sun. • He was a totalitarian, meaning he had total and absolute control over his country. • He controlled taxes, the military, and business.

23. Remember France? How about Great Britain?

24. Absolutism or Unlimited Government • Monarchs on the mainland of Europe were shocked by the results of England’s Glorious Revolution. • Many tightened control forming _______ governments. • Monarchs who ruled without the consent of the people, using absolute or total control. • They are called absolutemonarchs.

25. Peter the Great and Russian Absolutism • Ruled Russia • He took the title czar which means Caesar. • Ruled as an absolute monarch • Crushed the power of the Nobles • Controlled the peasants called serfs more closely. • He is considered an Enlighteneddespot because he tried to “westernize” Russia • This means improve science, technology, and business to make it more like the countries of Western Europe.

26. Russia can you find it? Can you still find France? What about of Great Britain

27. Enlightening Europe • Eventually Unlimited government would be forced to give way to _____ government. • This change usually occurred because of bloody revolutions, many kings and queens will lose their heads. • The last great absolute ruler will be Catherine II of Russia. • By 1796 ______ _______ are all but gone from Europe leaving behind many constitutional monarchies or constitution republics and democracies.

28. Standard 7-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of absolute monarchies and constitutional government in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 7-2.3 Outline the role and purposes of a constitution, including such functions as defining a relationship between a people and their government, describing the organization of government and the characteristics of shared powers, and protecting individual rights and promoting the common good. (P, H) Constitutions and Government Enlightenment thinkers believed strongly in the idea of a social contract between a government and the people. A social contract, relies on Popular Sovereignty,the people give up some of their power in order to be ruled. Government cannot exist without the consent or permission of the people is what the Enlightenment thinkers believed.

29. Constitutions • A constitution is a plan of government. • It sets the terms of the agreement between the government and the people. • It is just like following an instruction book. • Two types of constitutions: unwritten and written. • Unwritten, which is confusing, is formed over time. • Formed by agreements, laws, traditions, and court decisions. • Written, is formed by meetings or a convention, where a group sits down and writes out their proposals. • The constitution is ratified first, then it goes into power and the government starts to follow its directions.

30. Role of a Constitution • First, it contains a statement of goals that it will accomplish, this is called a Preamble. • Tells the shared ideals of the people. • Establishes the framework of the government. • Three branches…a two house legislature. • It defines the government’s powers and duties. • It is the Supreme law, the rules that tells the government and people how they must behave.

31. Limits of Power • A constitution should: • State the powers given to the government by the people. • Sets limits on powerso the government does not abuse the rights of the people.

32. The U.S. Constitution • Is a written constitution • Written largely by James Madison • Ideas taken from several sources: • Ancient Greece and Rome • English democracy such as the English Bill of Rights • The ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers

33. The U.S. Constitution • A constitutional democracy in the form of a republic. • The people hold power and choose their representatives; the government must follow the social contract. • If not, the people have the right to change the government. • This can be done by: • 1.Voting 2. Pass new laws 3. Create amendments 4. Appealing for the courts to rule things unconstitutional 5. Over throw it. • The U.S. has one of the oldest written constitutions and one of the shortest. • It is short so it is easy to understand and can be changed as needed.