The Enlightenment - History 10th

Anarchy

A state of society without government or law, where individuals operate freely without imposed authority. It often leads to chaos and disorder, as there is no structured system to enforce rules. It doesn’t last too long. Anarchy can arise from political upheaval or the collapse of state authority, resulting in a lack of mediation in conflicts and uncertainties regarding security and rights.

Aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by a small group of elite individuals, often distinguished by hereditary nobility, wealth, or education. Aristocracy is characterized by the belief that these individuals are best suited to govern due to their social status or capabilities. These people are known as the “best citizens”. Example: Ancient Spartan and Ancient Rome.

Direct Democracy

A system of government in which citizens directly participate in decision-making and voting on laws and policies, rather than through elected representatives. This form of democracy emphasizes the role of the individual in governance. There is constant voting. US is NOT a direct democracy.

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. This form of democracy balances the needs of the electorate with the efficiency of governance through chosen officials. Also known as Republic. Examples: USA, Canada, France, Japan, Taiwan

Absolute Monarchy

This is a form of goverement where there is no limitations on the monarch’s power. This can lead to corruption and a higher chance for them to abuse their power. Example: Saudi Arabia, Kawait, Quatar.

Constitutional Monarchy

This is a form of goverment where there is limitations on the monarch’s power through either the goverment or constitution. Example: Great Britan, Jordan, Thailand, Norway.

Oligarchy

This is a form of goverment where the ruling power belongs to a few people. This is very similar to Aristocracy, but the big difference is that that there is no need to be born into the postition. Example: Communist China.

Theocracy

This is a form of goverment where the rule of state is determined by God or a god. This is a goveremnt by priests claiming to rule with divine authority. People can’t question it because then you are questioning God. This becomes an excuse for corruption. Example: Vatican City, Iran.

Communism

This is a form of goverement where everyone shares everything. This causes there no be no private property. There is also no classes because everyone is regarded as equals. Example: China? Former Soviet Union? Vietnam? Cuba? (question mark because this is relative on perspective[you can still go shopping])

Judaism(1200 B.C.)

• code of morality/ethics = 10 commandments

• dignity of each person

• Humans have freedom to choose between good and evil

• Personal responsibility and value of each individual

Democracy in Greece Athens(508 - 404 B.C)

• developed in direct democracy

  • idea of 3 branches of goverment

    • used in USA, judicial, legislative

• used reason and intelligence, not superstition, to discover natural laws

Roman Republic(509 -527 B.C)

• Republic with seperate braches: Senate and Assemblies

• Established law for all people, equal treatment, innocent until proven guilty; set aside unfair laws; burden of proof rests with the accuser

• use legal terms(dictator and senate)

Rise of Christianity

• stressed idea of equality of all human beings

• universal religion, accepting of many groups

• ideas were spread by Roman Empire

Feudalism(400 A.D -1200)

• social system with relationship between different members of society(king, lord, vassles, and peasants)

• vassals/knights were paid by lords with land; peasants worked the land

Magna Carta(1215)

• King john of England forched to sign which created a limited monarchy

• the king had to obey too!

• king had to consult his nobels to tax citizens or go to war

Black Death/Bubonic Plague(1347 -1400)

• millions died; land wasn’t being worked

• decline in power of the Catholic Church, people lost faith

Renaissance(1300s - 1600s)

• means rebirth

• started in Italy iwht art, architecture and writings

• Michelangelo, leonardo de vinci, shakespeare

• Humanism = focus on wordly things, not just religious

  • education should help people think in new ways

• printing press invented = helped spread ideas

The protestant reformation(1517)

• Christans were upset with corruption in Catholic Church

• Martin Luther protested with the Catholic Church = Reformation

The scientific Reformation(1500s)

• Scientific method = observation and experimentation or explain universe

• New Scientific laws

  • Copernicus

    • heliocentric theory

  • Isaac Newton

    • gravity, calculus, physics

• the new approaches to science were opposed by the Catholic church

The american consitution (1789)

• Republic democracy

  • citizens vote for reps to make laws and a president to execute laws(checks and balances)

The french revolution(1789)

• french economy was bad and people were hungry

• people revoted against the monarcy and created a republic

Ideas of the Enlightment

• right to life, liberty, and property

• freedom of speech

• seperation of powers

  • no one goverment has most of the power

• social contract

  • a deal between the goverment and the people

  • people supported the goverment and the goverment protected the people

Thomas Hobbes

• wrote Leviathan

• believed that humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish

• If there are no strict controls people will fight, rob and oppress on another

• to escape, people enter into a social contract

  • agreement where they submit to an authorian ruler to prevent peace and disorder

• only powerful goverment could ensure order

• ideal goverment: absolute monarchy

John Locke

• wrote Two Treatises of Goverment

• natural rights

  • rights that belong to all humans from birth(life, liberty, and property)

• believed people are basically reasonable and moral and form goveremtns to protect their natural rights

• best goverments has limited power and is accepted by all citizens

• goverment has a obligation to the people

  • must protect the people otherwise be overhtrown by the people

• ideal goverement: limited monarchy

Baron de Montesquieu(1689 - 1755)

• wrote Spirit Laws

• studied goverment through histories, admired from Britain’s limited monarchy

• believed the idea of seperation of powers was the best way to protect liverty

  • legistlative = makes laws

  • executive = enforces laws

  • judical = interprets laws

• ideas were written in US constitution

• ideal goverment: seperated powers

• “The less men think, the more they talk”

Volitatre(1694 - 1778)

• “I do not agree a word you say but I will defend to death your right to say it”

• used wit and humor as a weapon to expose corrupt officials and idle aristocrats

• wrote about inequality, injust, and supersition

• proposed tolerance, freedom or religion, and freedom of speech

• hated slave trade and religious prejudice

• offended goverement and Catholic church, imprisoned and exiled, books were censored and burned

Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712 - 1778)

• wrote social contract

• believed that people are basically good but their goodness is corrupted by the evils of society(especially uneaqual division of property)

• “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

  • some chains(social constructs) are good

• in democracy, people choose to give up their self interest in favor of the common good

• good of the community should be placed above the individual

• Ideal goverment: Direct Democracy

Mary Wollstonecraft(1759-1797)

• wrote a vindication of the rights of women

• believed women should be able to decide what is her own interest and shouldn’t be completely dependant on her husband

• woman’s first duty is to be a good mother

• callled for the same education of girls and boys; only education can give womens the tools needed to participate equality with men

• ideal goverment; limited powers and equality for all genders

Adam Smith(1723 - 1790)

• wrote wealth of Nations

• believed in free market(natural forces of supply and demand) should be allowed to operate and regulate business

• wherever there is demand for good or severices, suppliers will seek to make it

• Laissez Faire

  • allowing buisness to operate with little or no goverment interference(hands off)

• goverments does not have a duty to protect society. administer justice

Diderot(1713 - 1784)

• wrote the encyclopedia