ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS, OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, & TIMELINE TO CONSTITUTION

Dr. East, 9/28/2014

Intellectuals dedicated to changing and reforming society

Often disagreed with each other but all championed

people’s rights for input into the actions of their

government… BIG NEW IDEA at time.

All mention a “social contract” between people and

government

The Philosophers that influenced the Framers

Other Theories of the Origin of the “State”, word “State” means gov. here

Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan (1651)

argued for strong central government to maintain order;

believed absolute power of government was

important to maintain order

Worried by revolutionary upheavals

Felt that people were motivated by ruthless struggle for

self-preservation

thought that people made a social contract with the state

in order to preserve order in society

Wrote Two Treatises on Government (1690) and An Essay

Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

argued for a separation of church and state, argued

for natural human rights of freedom and

independence, felt that people had a right to life,

health, liberty, and possessions (property)…

Felt that a representative civil society was the best way

to ensure that, and that government was a social

contract between representatives and people

John Locke, philosopher, counterpoint to Hobbes

Voltaire (Francios-Marie Arouet) 1694 - 1778,

worked in France, the center of Enlightenment

thought Championed individual freedom, critical of monarchies,Worried about religious tyranny, wrote Treatise on

Toleration (1763), “all men are brothers under God”

Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws (1748),

Best kind of monarchal government (was a

constitutional one) and advocated separation of powers

in government, “balance of powers” ideal (between

judicial, legislative, and executive)… heavily influential

to our own constitution

Jean Jacques Rousseau – the best exploration of the social contract idea

Suggested that people had become enslaved by

government

Suggested that the best way for everyone to regain

freedom meant that governments must be restored

according to a social contract between it and the “general

will of the people”, The Social Contract (1762)

People had a right to assert general will by force if

necessary - REVOLT

For the public good, all people’s best interests, all

people must submit to the general will … so some had

to give up certain independent freedoms

Thomas Jefferson - Declaration of Independence, 1776, big supporter of States rights in his interpretation of the Constitution,

Thomas Paine, pamphlet, Common Sense,

Adam Smith – 1776, economics, Wealth of Nations - best government approach to economics was a laissez faire, capitalist “hands off” approach to the market

Other well known philosophers of the time period

Seven General beliefs of Enlightenment Philosophers1. Equality before the law2. Freedom of religious worship3. Freedom of speech4. Freedom on the press5. Right to assemble6. Hold property7. Pursue Happiness (Jefferson)

Our Founding Documents Share Enlightenment Ideals

** Directly influenced our Bill of Rights

1215 – Magna Carta, establishes notions of citizens rights vs. King’s obligations

1607 – Jamestown, VA Settlement 1669 – John Locke writes the NC colony

constitution1689 – English Bill of Rights for its Citizens1754 – Albany Plan proposed to unite Colonies1765 – British enforcement of Stamp Act angers

colonists who argued against “Taxation without Representation”

1770 – Boston Massacre of protesting colonialists

Recall the Timeline to Our Constitution

1773 – Boston Tea Party, protesting colonials throw imported tea overboard in Boston Harbor

1774 – 1st Continental Congress, Philadelphia Pa, organized to protest against “Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts”… punishments after Tea party that results in colonists having to quarter British soldiers, closing of the Port of Boston, all of Mass. Colonial gov. having to be appointed by King, and trials of colonial governors happening only in England

1775 – Revolutionary war breaks out in Lexington & Concord Mass, beginning with death of 8 minute men

1775 – 2nd Congress runs colonial gov. while war is occurring, appoints George Washington as leader and asks Thomas Jefferson to write Declaration of Independence group drafts the Articles of Confederation (later ratified in

1781) July 4th, 1776 – Declaration of Independence, establishes

freedom from colonial rule for 13 states

13 Colonies as of 1775, became our 1st States, initially united under Articles of Confederation, then later under The Constitution

From the Declaration – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that men are

created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” - American Declaration of Independence, 1776

1781 – British Surrender at Battle of Yorktown1783 – War officially over1787 – Daniel Shay’s Rebellion highlights

weaknesses of the new gov. under Articles of Confederation

1787 – Philadelphia Constitutional Convention,55 delegates meet to draft new gov. Lead by George Washington, these people became known

as the “Framers”They had to compromise over plans from VA and NJ and

over how to incorporate slaves and elect representatives to the new federal government

The US Constitution (ratified, 1787)Separation of powers (Legislative, Judicial, Executive

… Montesquieu)Separation of Church and State (Voltaire)Concern over the power of central authority (all)

Our constitution limits the power of the federal government with many rights and authority granted to states and localities to make laws

Ex. No real federal education policy - Local school districts and states decide most of education policy (i.e., the Virginia SOLs) and course offerings

States have the right to set state tax laws, make marriage laws, etc., etc.