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Introduces the core political philosophies of the Enlightenment and their focus on reason, liberty, and progress.
Imagine a world where a King's word is law simply because he says God chose him. What if you could prove that power actually belongs to you, not the crown?
During the 1700s, a movement called the Enlightenment (or the Age of Reason) transformed how Europeans thought about government. Before this, most nations were Absolute Monarchies, where kings held total power through the 'Divine Right of Kings'—the belief that God gave them the right to rule. Enlightenment thinkers challenged this, using reason and logic rather than tradition. They argued that the world followed natural laws, much like science. If , then applying reason to politics should create a fairer society. This shift moved the focus from the 'glory of the King' to the 'rights of the individual.'
Quick Check
What was the 'Divine Right of Kings'?
Answer
The belief that a monarch's authority comes directly from God, making them unaccountable to their subjects.
English philosopher John Locke was a pioneer of Enlightenment thought. He rejected the idea of absolute power and proposed that every human is born with Natural Rights. These are rights that no government can take away: Life, Liberty, and Property. Locke argued that people are born as a tabula rasa (blank slate) and are shaped by experience. He believed the purpose of government is solely to protect these rights. If a government fails to do so, Locke claimed the people have a 'right to revolution' to overthrow that government and start a new one.
1. Imagine you live in a village where a King takes half of everyone's crops just to build a gold statue of himself. 2. According to Locke, this violates your natural right to Property. 3. Because the King is not protecting your rights, the 'contract' is broken, and the villagers have the right to replace him.
Quick Check
According to Locke, what are the three specific natural rights?
Answer
Life, Liberty, and Property.
The French thinker Baron de Montesquieu focused on how to prevent tyranny. He believed that 'power should be a check to power.' To achieve this, he proposed the Separation of Powers. Instead of one King making laws, enforcing laws, and judging laws, government should be split into three branches: 1. Legislative: Makes the laws. 2. Executive: Enforces the laws. 3. Judicial: Interprets the laws. By dividing power, no single person or group could become too powerful. This system of checks and balances is the foundation of many modern democracies, including the United States.
1. The Student Council (Legislative) votes to allow hats in class. 2. The Principal (Executive) must sign the rule to make it official. 3. A Student Court (Judicial) decides if a teacher's punishment for wearing a hat follows the new rule. 4. If the Principal tries to ban hats anyway, the Council and Court can block that action.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau took these ideas further with his concept of the Social Contract. He argued that 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.' He believed that legitimate government comes from the consent of the governed. In a Social Contract, individuals agree to give up some of their absolute freedom in exchange for the protection of the community. However, the government must follow the General Will—the desires and needs of the majority of the people. For Rousseau, the people are the ultimate source of political power, a concept known as popular sovereignty.
Consider a dispute over a new tax: 1. Absolute Monarchy: The King needs money for a war, so he demands the tax. The people have no say. 2. Enlightenment Approach: The people (the General Will) decide if the war is necessary. If they agree, they consent to the tax through their representatives. If the tax only benefits the King's lifestyle, it violates the Social Contract.
Which philosopher is most associated with the idea of 'Separation of Powers'?
According to the Social Contract, where does a government get its authority?
John Locke believed that if a government fails to protect natural rights, the people have no right to rebel.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list the three branches of government proposed by Montesquieu and the three natural rights identified by Locke.
Practice Activity
Look up a news article about a new law. Can you identify which branch of government (Legislative, Executive, or Judicial) is currently handling it?