The Enlightenment- saw the development of social contract . Social Contract which was an agreement to give up some of their freedoms for protection, it aims to explain the relationship between a people and government where the belief is that the right to rule comes from the people.

1.01

Influential People

• Hobbes

-Philosopher who believed that human nature is inherently destructive and that at their core if left to their own devices we would have violence, chaos, and society would disintegrate.

-Wrote the book Leviathan

-Believed that the most important thing to have is a strong authoritative figure

-Hobbes believed that people would voluntarily give up their freedom knowing that if they were left to be free they would descend into chaos and violence and that people should willingly give up their freedom

-Hobbes described human life as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

-Human beings lived in a state of nature

-Insisted humans entered social contract

• Locke

- Locke believed the opposite of Hobbes

-He believed that people were born with a blank slate and there was no inherent anger or destructive tendencies in people

-If left to their own devices people would find a way to better themselves and better society as a whole being given as much freedom as possible and so Locke believed the utmost importance in society was a limited government that served to promote people's life liberty and property.

-Locke believed that when people mixed their efforts with nature (by farming or domesticating animals), they created property and had a right to that property.

-Locke believed that the people had to continue to agree to follow their leader, a concept called consent of the governed.

• Rousseau

-He believed that all these freedoms and society that lock's world would create would essentially lead to the kind of corruption and destruction that Hobbes talks about.

-His saying is that man is born free but everywhere in chains

-If you strip away all of these elements what's left people being free together in total equality making decisions for what's best for the community or what Rousseau called the general will.

-Direct Democracy- all citizens vote on all decisions that affect the society. People are directly involved in governing.

-Majority Rule and Minority Rights

• Montesquieu

-Welcome to the essential ideas of the enlightenment

-Idea of separating powers within government among different branches legislative, executive, and judiciary.

-He was also a firm believer in the power of commerce and markets. Montesquieu trading and commerce encouraged tolerance peace and justice because when people and societies were trading with one another they weren't fighting with each other.

-Montesquieu said there could be two kinds of republics: democratic and aristocratic.

-Had views on a limited government where there are rules and laws to ensure that those in charge cannot take advantage of those who are not in charge.

-**Rule of law -**bound to follow the laws just like everyone else.

-Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances - One branch doesn’t gain to much power

-Wrote the Spirit of Laws

__The Great Awakening-__1730's-1740’s

-Several religious revivals swept through the colonies

-……that’s about it. I don’t want to go into detail

1.02

Colonial Influences

Rule of Law- All people must follow the laws, and the laws should be enforced fairly.

Self Government- People can make decisions on how their government should work.

Due Process- People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and need to treat all people in the same way.

Limited Government- A government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement.

Rights- A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions.

Magna Carta (1215)- A government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility. [Limited gov., Rights, Rule of Law, Due Process]

Mayflower Compact- Agreement among individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect rights of colonists. [Self gov., Rule of Law]

English Bill of Rights- A government document that expanded the powers of English Parliament and the rights of people, as well as limited rights of the king. [Limited gov., Rights, Due Process, Rule of law]

Cato’s Letters- Collection of newspaper articles published to convince people to support freedom of expression and fight against the rule of the British gov. [Rights, Rule of Law]

Common Sense- A pamphlet written to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England [Self gov., Rights]

1.03

Unalienable Rights- Rights that cannot be taken away

Pursuit of Happiness- Trying to find joy and contentment

Natural Rights- Rights people are born with

Consent of the Governed- Permission of those under the government’s rule

Just Powers- Powers that are fair

Self Evident- Can be seen just by looking at it

The Quartering Acts forced colonists to house British troops.

Britain saw its colonies as a source of profit.

If you sold a newspaper in 1765, you would have to put a stamp tax on it.

The Townshend Revenue Act allowed the government to search people’s homes.

Virginia Colony’s first government was called the House of Burgesses.

-Glass, lead and tea were all things the colonists had to get from Britain.

-Minerals, timber, and crops were all things Britain needed from the colonists

Battles

Battle of Bunker Hill-

British troops attack militia north of Boston in June 1775 Costly British win: 450 colonists and over 1,000 British casualties

Battle of Trenton-

Christmas 1776, Washington crosses Delaware River into New Jersey Washington surprises Hessian (German) troops, wins Battle of Trenton

Battle of Saratoga-

Considered to be the turning point of the war because French become allies British General John Bourgoyne loses repeatedly to Continental Army Surrounded at Saratoga, Burgoyne surrenders to General Gates French recognize American independence, sign treaty of alliance, February 1778

Battle of Yorktown-

Lafayette’s plan: French and Americans attack British at Yorktown British surrender October 1781