What is a revolution?

Are people justified in choosing revolution as a solution to political and social problems?

What social and economic situations exist in America today and could they lead to a revolution?

Do you think a revolution would be likely in the United States?Why or Why not?

How does our system of government prevent the need for a revolution? Focus Questions

I. Enlightenment IdealsA. Historical Documents

II. French Enlightenment PhilosophesA. Rousseau B. VoltaireC. Physiocrats

III. English/Scottish Enlightenment PhilosophesA. John LockeB. Adam SmithEnlightenment PhilosophersInfluences of the Declaration

Enlightenment Ideals Equality, Questioning Tradition, Self-Rule, Freedoms

Deism Natural law and reasonGod created the world and let things happen naturally without interference

Separation of Church and State

Laissez-Faire Let them do as they please

Rationalism reason is the source of knowledge(using your mind to come to a conclusion that makes sense)I. Enlightenment Ideals

Reasons for enlightenment thinking

Influenced by the Scientific Revolution questioning accepted beliefs

Wanted to find a way to improve society(Reason, Natural Law, Hope, Progress)I. Enlightenment Ideals

A. Historical DocumentsDocuments influencing the Declaration Magna CartaEnglish Bill of RightsColonial American Documents Virginia Constitution, Virginia Declaration of Rights

Jean-Jacques Rousseau French Philosopher

Works:The Social Contract

Teachings:Through a contract society agrees to be governedGovernment receives power from the people

General-will represents what is best for everyone,not just some (Majority Rules)

Women should be taught to be good mothers and wivesA. Rousseau

Voltaire Author/French PhilosopherGreatest philosopher of Enlightenment

Works:Pamphlets, letters, essays, novelsLed to fame and wealth

Teachings:Criticized Christianity (Catholicism) Religious tolerationAll men are brothers under GodB. Voltaire

PhysiocratsFrench group of economists

Teachings:Society benefits when people are allowedto do what they want economically(businesses charge own prices, people buy what they want)

Government should stay out of economicmattersFranois Quesnay E. Physiocrats

John LockeEnglish Philosopher

Works: Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Teachings:People are born with a blank mind Tabula RasaPeople are shaped by their experiences, environment change environment --- change societyA. John Locke

Adam Smith Scottish Economist/Philosopher

Works:The Wealth of Nations

Teachings:State should not interfere in economicmatters

Three Roles of Government:1. Protect society from invasion (Army)2. Defend citizens from injustice (Police)3. Keep up public works (Roads, Canals, things private individuals cant afford)B. Adam Smith

BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC

Thomas Paine : author Common Sense

Navigation Acts: Britain regulated trade in colonies

Why Problems started: 7 years war, French & Indian war drained England treasury.-Taxes increased -Strictly enforcing Navigation Acts

EARLY FIGHTS

Boston Massacre: British soldiers shoot into crowd of colonist for throwing snowballs at them

Boston Tea Party: to protest tax on tea

1st Continental Congress: Philadelphia -to draw up grievances and send letter to Parliament-Set up 1st continental army George Washington2nd Continental Congress:-declared independence-Thomas Jefferson main author of Declaration of Indp-Locke ideas main ones usedPopular Sovereignty

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Britain : had soldiers in colonies-offered freedom to slaves who fought colonist-LoyalistColonist: knew the land- fighting for personal reasons-Guerilla tactics

Turning Point: Battle of Saratoga (colonist win)-persuaded France to help colonist (hated England)-supplied, soldiers, war ships and supplies

Treaty of Paris: British defeated at Yorktown forced to surrender- 2yrs later signed treaty to end war- recognized independence -US land all the way to the Mississippi River

CONSTITUTION

Articles Of Confederation: to weak

Federal Republic: power divided between Federal (national) govt and states

Separate branches: Executive Judicial Legislative

Bill of Rights: 1st 10 amendments to constitution

In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other.

Dictionnaire Philosophique, 1764Do you agree with this statement? Why or Why not?

What do you believe the role of government should be? Give at leastTHREE examples.

Why do you think the above listed items are the role of government?

Do you believe there should be more government control in your lifeor less?

Give an example of why more government control is beneficial.Give an example of why less government control is beneficial.

****Magna Cartaconsidered a bill of rights for medieval Englandestablishing that the King was not above the lawvery influential on the development of similar bills of rights, such as the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitutionright to habeas corpus, a clause protecting the freedom of the church, and other clauses which spelled out the rules for due process of law

*Believed people were naturally good but evils of socieity especially unequal distribution of property corrupted them

Felt individual desires should be subordinate to the community good -unlike others of the time

*Targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats

Detested slave trade and deplored religious prejudice

Was imprisoned and forced into exile

Fought for freedom of speechfought for reforms such as freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial.*Laissez Faire: allowing business to operate with little or no govt. interference

*People were basically reasonable and moral

Natural Rights: rights all humans had from birthlife, liberty, property

Argued: People created govt. to protect their natural rights and best govt. had limited power and accepted by all citizens. Rejected Absolute Monarchy

If govt. fails to protect peoples rights, people had right to overthrow govt.*Free market should regulate business activity

Invinted: Supply and demand idea

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