Enlightenment and American Revolution

Which document is the best example of Montesquieu? What American Document most influenced the French Revolution? What philosopher was the biggest influence on the American Bill of Rights?

American documents such as the Declaration of Independence demonstrate the influence of Locke's ideas. Charles-Louis Montesquieu was a French political thinker known for his ideas regarding the government's separation of powers.

Find the section of the Declaration of Independence that outlines the "repeated injuries and usurpations" the King created against the colonies. Read the list and be able to identify some of the examples during your test.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

Which philosopher most influenced Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence? What is your evidence of the same?

His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, but most importantly, the American revolutionaries. Thomas Jefferson used the thoughts first penned by John Locke while writing the Declaration of Independence.

Who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta? What did they want from him?

King John met the barons on June 15, 1215 at Runnymede, a neutral site just west of London. Here the barons demanded that King John sign a document called the Magna Carta guaranteeing them certain rights

Chales-Louis Montesquieu is famous for his ideas on which of the following subjects?

Montesquieu gained fame with the publication of the Persian Letters, a politically biting satire of religions, monarchies and the rich French under the guise of an epistolary novel, although he disdained calling it that.

Scientific Revolution

A major change in European thought, starting in the mid-1500s, in which the study of the natural world began to be characterized by careful observation and the questioning of accepted beliefs.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Be able to summarize the impact of the philosophers during the Enlightenment. That is, how did the ideas of the Enlightenment change history? What was it like before the Enlightenment? What was it like after?

Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, in France and throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change. The Enlightenment produced numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars and revolutions. The American and French Revolutions were directly inspired by Enlightenment ideals and respectively marked the peak of its influence and the beginning of its decline. The Enlightenment ultimately gave way to 19th-century Romanticism.

How did the Magna Carta contribute to the development of the English Government?

It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.

The First Amendment of the US Bill of Rights is an example of the ideals written about by what Enlightenment Philosopher?

Jefferson himself was inspired by the work of European Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Cesare Beccaria. The language of the First Amendment was inspired by similar free speech protections written into various state constitutions.

Which Enlightenment philosopher was the biggest influence on the ideas of natural rights

John Locke FRS was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism".

What foundation documents are examples of the natural rights philosophy of life, liberty and property?

Locke believed that the most basic human law of nature is the preservation of mankind. To serve that purpose, he reasoned, individuals have both a right and a duty to preserve their own lives. Murderers, however, forfeit their right to life since they act outside the law of reason. Locke also argued that individuals should be free to make choices about how to conduct their own lives as long as they do not interfere with the liberty of others. Locke therefore believed liberty should be far-reaching.

Compare and Contrast the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights. They each had the same objective, what was it?

Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights are both historically significant documents; while the Magna Carta was meant to serve as a peace treaty between upset barons and King John, the English Bill of Rights ensured that the monarchy within England didn't hold too much accumulated power

What are some ways the Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution?

The Enlightenment ideas were the main influences for American Colonies to become their own nation. Some of the leaders of the American Revolution were influenced by Enlightenment ideas which are, freedom of speech, equality, freedom of press, and religious tolerance.

Why did the American Revolution succeed where others did not?

The French Revolution, by contrast, illuminated by America's example and Enlightenment thought, began in blissful optimism but collapsed into a blood-soaked tyranny much worse than the monarchy it deposed.

In what ways was the American Revolution considered unique for its times?

The Seven Years' War (known in America as the French and Indian War) changed everything. Although Britain eventually achieved victory over France and its allies, victory had come at great cost. A staggering war debt influenced many British policies over the next decade.

Describe separation of powers

an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.

Why was "No Taxation without Representation" an idea that the colonists believed was a violation of their rights as British Subjects? What gave them those rights?

History experts say the main reason the colonists were angry was because Britain had rejected the idea of "no taxation without representation." ... Yet all of them valued their local self-rule and their rights as British citizens. They considered the Stamp Act to be the worst in a series of violations of these rights

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and Property

Compare and Contrast the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights.

Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights are both historically significant documents; while the Magna Carta was meant to serve as a peace treaty between upset barons and King John

How is Montesquieu's Enlightenment ideals seen in the American Constitution?

Montesquieu believed in the separation of power with checks and balances. Checks and balances are put in place to ensure that no one branch of government has too much power.

How did the Enlightenment influence the Revolution in America?

The Enlightenment ideas were the main influences for American Colonies to become their own nation. Some of the leaders of the American Revolution were influenced by Enlightenment ideas which are, freedom of speech, equality, freedom of press, and religious tolerance.

The US Bill of Rights was designed to serve which purpose?

The remaining ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. They put limits on the national government's right to control specific civil liberties and rights, many of which were already protected by some of the state constitutions.

Enlightment

movement that began in Europe in the late 1600s as people began examining the natural world, society, and government; also called the age of reason

Devine right of kings

the belief that the authority of kings comes directly from God

Which American Revolutionary document is the best example of Natural Rights? Who wrote that document? Who was responsible for the idea of natural rights?

Many historians agree that Jefferson drew most of his beliefs in the importance of natural rights he expressed in the Declaration of Independence from the Second Treatise of Government, written by renowned English philosopher John Locke in 1689