9-14 to 9-15-2020 Mon and Tue

 Week 2 

9-14 to  9-15-20 Mon and TUE   chapter 38

The enlightenment John Locke Rosue Montesquieu ch 38

The Age of Enlightenment and Reason.

By 1600, the mercantilist system was producing

unprecedented wealth among West European Monarchs.

But so have the bourgeoisie! These are the business

people;the middle class. They were the business owners that

generated great wealth from their production of finished goods. Since the 1600s, the bourgeoisie have been paying higher and

higher taxes keeping these absolute rulers in power. They started

to resent these all-too powerful kings.

A philosophy that questioned Absolute Monarch rule began to spread in the

coffee shops of England and France. The philosophy of the Age of Reason!

It asserted that all individuals have the ability to reason and make their

own decisions about reality and rule of law. They should be free to choose

their leaders! Among the most important Enlightened philosophers were

Montesquieu, Rousseau, Locke and Voltaire.

In 1748, Montesquieu’s book On the Spirit of Laws argued it was time to

return to a three branch system. This reflects the values of a Republic; a nation

of the people. He also believed separating powers in three ways naturally helps

keep any leader in check. In fact, he believed Absolute monarchy should be

abolished.

Jean Rousseau wrote a book called The Social Contract. He argues that people

of a nation may willingly consent to their government. If the government

denies basic rights, the contract is broken! It is therefore

the right and duty of people to rebel.

John Locke: Englishmen wrote a book called Two

Treatises of Government. He argued that all people

have a right to life, liberty and property. In fact, the sole

purpose of government is to preserve these basic human rights.

If a government fails to protect these rights, the people should overthrow it!

Voltaire: This Frenchman was like a shot gun. He not only hated absolute

monarchies. He also claimed people have a right to free speech! “I may not

agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say

it!” Voltaire also hated the power of the Catholic Church (the church was always

tight with absolute kings in Europe).

These ideas of Enlightened Reason were dangerous to Absolute Monarch

Kings. Therefore kings did not like these guys and tried to suppress their ideas.

Regardless, the ideas would soon lead to great political change after some

inevitable bloodshed.

LIST 3 FACTS FOR EACH 

Enlightenment

FACT 1 

FACT 2

FACT3 

Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws

FACT 1

FACT 2

FACT3

Rousseau

FACT 1

FACT 2

FACT3

John Locke

FACT 1

FACT 2

FACT3