Constitutionalism & the Enlightenment Enlightenment An influential intellectual and cultural movement of the late seventeenth and eighteenth

h centuries that introduced new ways of thinking based on the use of reason, the scientific method, and progress. Schools of thought Belief Rationalism Definition

Truth can only be achieved by intellectual and deductive reasoning, not by our senses Individualism A concept from the renaissance Individuals have natural born rights Empiricism Stresses that truth can only be achieved by using the senses, observation, and inductive reasoning, and not intellectual reasoning. Tolerance Each individual should be free to make their own choices and not be ridiculed based on their choices and opinion Skepticism *Doubting knowledge, especially of authority and religion (for the Enlightenment) Deism Belief against organized religion. God made the universe and then steps back (does nothing). No use in prayers Most Enlightenment thinkers were in one of two main schools of thought rationalism or empiricism. Philosophes A group of French intellectuals who proclaimed they were bringing light of known to their fellow creatures in the age of enlightenment. (While they were focused in France, there were many Enlightenment thinkers all over Europe and the world). Enlightenment thinkers Baron de Montesquieu Voltaire Created the theory of separation of powers, that political power should be divided in order to prevent tyranny. Believed that Monarchy was the best form of government as people could not govern themselves and held a deistic view, god only created the universe but has no influence on what goes on in the universe. Believed that women were equal to men but were underrated due to lack of education. Same beliefs as Madame Du Chtelet

Madame Du Chtelet Mary Wollstonecraft David Hume Believed that our mind was made of impressions which are shaped by our experiences. Because our ideas come from our experiences, our reason cannot determine the origin of the universe. He was a leader of the Scottish Enlightenment which emphasized pragmatic and scientific reasoning. This led to the establishment of the first public education system in Europe Denis Diderot Wrote the first encyclopedia which summed up the world view of the Enlightenment. Wikipedia of the Enlightenment.

Adam Smith Thomas Hobbes John Locke

Rousseau

Frederick the Great

Created the idea of Economic Liberalism the theory of pursuit of self-interest in a market Limited government interference. Assisted in the creation of the Social Contract Theory Mutual transaction of the rights between the people and the government. Believed that absolutism was best govt and that people have natural born rights. He had the similar beliefs to Hobbes; however, Locke believed that this could only be achieved through a republic and that an absolute monarchy was no a civil society. General Will Reflects the interest of the people Popular Sovereignty Legitimacy of the state is created and sustained by the will/consent of the people. Believed that men and woman were equal and promoted tolerance of religion and philosophy

Ideas from the Enlightenment effected not only England, but countries all over the world. The United States was created based on principles such as the separation of powers and tolerance. Frederick II of Prussia started the War of Austria Succession and in winning the war he gave rights to woman and was tolerant to everyone allowing people to freely believe in whatever they chose to believe English Constitutionalism 1215: The Magna Carta 1628: Petition of Rights King John abused his power causing the Barons to force him to sign the Magna Carta promising the rights of due process, life, liberty, no unfair punishment, and the government cannot take property abruptly. King Charles I imposed taxes without parliaments consent and threw people into jail without trial. Parliament forced King Charles to sign the petition of rights which said that taxes must be approved by parliament, the king cannot dissolve parliament, and the king must call parliament for regular sessions Parliament initiated a war on King Charles I for not keeping his promises when he signed the petition of rights. King Charles I was trialed for treason and then executed. Oliver Cromwell is crowned the next monarch as King Charles II. Charles II ignored the promises he made to parliament. The King of Netherlands was asked to protect the English people. When he sent his army to protect the English, King Charles II fled. King William III and Queen Mary II became the rulers of England. William and Marry signed the English Bill of Rights in order to ensure that the Monarchs would understand the rights of the people and that the same events in the past would not occur. The Bill of Rights stated that Parliament would make laws and the King could not, there would be no religious courts, only parliament could issue taxes, the right to bear arms, free elections for parliament seats, freedom of speech, due process, and fair trail among other things.

1642-1649: English Civil War

1689: Glorious Revolution

1689: The Bill of Rights