Enlightenment Thinkers

Thomas Hobbes

Believed humans are naturally selfish and need protection from themselves.

Advocated for absolute monarchy to maintain order through a social contract (people surrender rights for law and order).

John Locke

Opposed Hobbes, viewing people as reasonable and capable of self-governance.

Advocated for constitutional monarchy where power derives from consent of the governed.

Believed citizens could overthrow a government violating natural rights.

Voltaire

Championed freedom of speech and religion.

Opposed intolerance, prejudice, and oppression.

Famous quote: “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Baron de Montesquieu

Believed in separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial branches).

Advocated for checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Emphasized individual freedom and the idea that power corrupts.

People are naturally good, but power corrupts them. People form a social contract and government based on common good.

Supported direct democracy guided by the majority's general will.

Cesare Beccaria

Criticized the justice system's flaws (torture, secret trials, severe punishments).

Advocated for fair, speedy trials and the abolition of torture and capital punishment.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all 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.

—Declaration of Independence, 1776

John Locke

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused

shall enjoy the right to a speedy and

public trial, by an impartial jury of the

State and district wherein the crime shall

have been committed.

—U. S. Bill of Rights

Cesare Beccaria

The free communication of ideas and

opinions is one of the most precious of the

rights of man. Every citizen may thus

speak, write, and print with freedom, but

shall be responsible for such abuses of this

freedom as shall be defined by law.

—Declaration of the Rights of Man and

Citizen, 1789

Voltaire

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be

vested in a Congress of the United States,

which shall consist of a Senate and House of

Representatives.

The executive Power shall be vested in a

President of the United States of America.

The judicial Power shall be vested in one

supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as

the Congress may ordain and establish.

—U.S. Constitution

Montesquieu

In 2003, the communities of Freetown and

Lakeville, Massachusetts held their annual

town meetings and voted on the budget

for the school district. Freetown voters

approved a budget that reduced their

contribution by $100,000 from what the

School Committee asked for.

Jean-Jacques Rosseau

Congress shall make no law respecting

an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

—U.S. Bill of Rights, 1791

Voltaire

As all persons are held innocent until

they have been declared guilty, if arrest is

considered essential, all harshness not

necessary for the securing of the person

shall be severely repressed by law.

—Declaration of the Rights of Man and

Citizen, 1789

Cessare Beccaria

Governments are instituted among Men,

deriving their just powers from the

consent of the governed...whenever any

Form of Government becomes destructive

of these ends, it is the Right of the People

to alter or to abolish it, and to institute

new Government.

—Declaration of Independence, 1776

John Locke

Every Bill which shall have passed the

House of Representatives and the Senate,

shall, before it become a Law, be presented

to the President of the United States;

if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he

shall return it, with his Objections to that

House in which it shall have originated,

who shall…proceed to reconsider it.

—U.S. Constitution

Montesquieu