Early Modern Ideas of Liberty
EARLY MODERN IDEAS OF LIBERTY
Discussion of the concept of liberty dates back to early modernity, focusing on the expansion of human rights.
KEY FACTORS IN THE EXPANSION OF LIBERTY
Limiting the absolute power of monarchs: Monarchs historically held unchecked power, but movements developed to limit their abilities.
Establishing representative legislatures: The formation of bodies that represent the people marked a shift towards collective decision-making.
Guaranteeing certain individual rights: The establishment of specific rights aimed to protect individuals from the state.
MAGNA CARTA (1215)
Background: The Magna Carta, known as the “Great Charter,” was signed in England and represented one of the first attempts to curtail royal power.
Significance: It established the principle that everyone, including the King (John), was subject to the law.
Foundation for Parliament: It laid the groundwork for the eventual establishment of Parliament.
**Key Principles: **
Trial by jury: This principle became a cornerstone of legal rights.
Protection from excessive taxation: Established limits on what the king could tax.
Concept of “free men”: Initially, this referred mainly to nobles, laying an early foundation for later expansions of liberty.
Limitations: Despite this step, the monarchs retained considerable power for many centuries.
POWER STRUGGLES IN THE 17TH CENTURY
Charles I (Reign from 1625-1649): Strongly believed in the divine right of kings.
Sought to govern without Parliament leading to conflict; levied taxes without their approval.
Dissolved Parliament for 11 years (1629-1640).
Religious Context: His Catholic queen raised fears of a return to Catholicism in England.
Conflict with Parliament: Disputed control, particularly during a Catholic rebellion in Ireland, escalating tensions over military authority.
English Civil War (1642-1651): Began when Charles declared war on Parliament.
Consequences included his execution in 1649, leading to a period without a king until 1660.
JOHN MILTON (1608-1674)
Although the first attempt at self-rule failed, contemporaneous thinkers influenced future liberty movements.
Notable Works: Renowned for his poetry, Milton also authored political treatises.
Key Arguments:
All men are born free.
Defended the rebellion against Charles I.
Championed freedom of speech and of the press.
Advocated for a republic as the ideal governance structure for England.
FROM THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR TO THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION TIMELINE
1642: King Charles I declares war on Parliament.
1642-1651: English Civil War unfolds.
1649: Charles I is executed.
1660: Restoration of the monarchy as Charles II becomes king.
1688: King James II is overthrown during the Glorious Revolution, replaced by William and Mary.
Declaration of Rights: Approved by William and Mary, this limited royal power and required Parliament’s consent for taxation.
WILLIAM AND MARY’S CONCESSIONS
Parliamentary Powers:
Enacts laws and approves taxes.
Votes on military use.
Legal Protections:
Prohibited cruel and unusual punishment.
Restrictions on Monarchy: Catholics were barred from the throne.
A GRADUAL PROCESS OF EXPANDING LIBERTY
1689: Bill of Rights signed in England, marking a pivotal moment in legislative history.
19th Century: Extension of voting rights to men.
1868: 14th Amendment grants citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals.
1920: Women gain the right to vote in America.
1965: Voting Rights Act abolishes practices that disenfranchised Black voters in America.
JOHN LOCKE ON NATURAL LAW
Locke wrote contemporaneously with the Glorious Revolution.
Concept of Natural Law:
Defined as a universal law discoverable through reason.
Establishes natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which the government cannot infringe upon.
Stipulates that humans must safeguard not only their rights but also those of others.
THE RISE OF THE NATION STATE
Features a rise in political centralization alongside:
Decline of the Catholic Church's influence.
Development of strong national identities.
Increased need for national defense as middle class grows.
TWO CONCEPTS OF LIBERTY (FROM DR. GIANOUTSOS)
Negative Liberty:
Defined as individual freedom to make choices without interference, assuming choices harm no one.
Positive Liberty:
Represents freedom to participate actively in one’s civic community, a natural development from social associations.
THOMAS HOBBES’ CONCEPT OF HEDGEROWS
Chose the metaphor of hedgerows, where laws act as boundaries allowing freedom of movement within a controlled path.
Social Contract Theory:
Early proponent of the idea that individuals surrender some liberties to gain security.
DR. GIANOUTSOS ON LOCKE
Emphasized the importance of the social contract, where society members agree to follow laws.
Individuals retain a right to resist the government if it betrays their trust or violates liberties.
This notion was reflected in Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
DR. GIANOUTSOS ON POSITIVE LIBERTY
Based on ancient city-state models (e.g., Athens and Rome).
Focuses on public engagement, fulfilling obligations to the community through service and collective decision-making.
CORRUPTION AS A THREAT TO POSITIVE LIBERTY
Challenge to Positive Liberty: Political corruption endangers the public good as self-interest trumps collective benefit.
Solution: Education is posited as a means to cultivate virtuous citizens.
THE HYPOCRISY OF “GREAT” THINKERS
Historical figures sometimes had contradictions between their ideologies and personal actions.
E.g., Columbus, Cortes, Locke, and Jefferson’s connections to slavery.
Moral Implications: Explores how great thinkers justified their double standards despite their intellectual contributions.
THE WASHINGTON POST PUBLISHED A CHAPTER FROM A BOOK ON JEFFERSON
Jefferson's Involvement in the Declaration: He was the primary author.
Encountered contradictions during his authorship, notably traveling with his wife’s Black half-brother.
Removed Text: His original draft included a condemnation of slave importation but was ultimately censored during the Convention.
WHY DID THE FOUNDERS COMPROMISE?
Economic Factors: Many delegates profited from slavery and faced challenges in uniting colonies.
Social Context: The belief that society was unready for broader liberty expansions persisted.
Regrets and Reflections: Explored the implications of the phrase “all men are created equal” and its limitations in fulfilling the promise of liberty.
ARGUMENTS USED TO JUSTIFY SLAVERY
Arguments of Nature: Developed during the timeline, positing inherent human hierarchies as a basis for slavery.
Discussion on how race was constructed to justify exploitation.
Ta-Nehisi Coates' quote on racism being a product of hierarchy.
BIBLICAL ARGUMENTS
The Curse of Ham: Genesis' narrative used to justify enslavement through interpretation.
Misinterpretations claimed Ham's lineage justified slavery, despite biblical passages advocating freedom.
Scriptural Contradictions: Other biblical references, such as Galatians 3:28, challenge the notion of inequality among individuals in faith.
ARGUMENTS ABOUT “CIVILIZATION” AND “BARBARISM”
European Justification: Ideologies centered around civilizational superiority, claiming the “civilizing” of others.
“Othering” becomes a critical framework for understanding these justifications for slavery and domination.
UP NEXT: FRENCH AND HAITIAN REVOLUTIONS
Overview of upcoming discussions regarding:
French financial crisis leading to the Estates General assembly.
Violence against feudal privileges by the National Assembly on August 4, 1789.
The rebellion in Saint-Domingue against slavery and colonization.
Revolutionary Themes: Notice the transition from a quest for liberty to active engagement in fighting for it.