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The enlightenment philosophers essay
The enlightenment philosophers essay
The enlightenment philosophers essay
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The Enlightenment gave way to a whole new way of thinking and made people question the government and their religion. In the letter that John Adams writes to Mercy Warren, his purpose is to open up Mercy’s eyes to how government should function, not one based on what religion wants but one that is in the interest of the public’s needs. Adams intended on persuading Warren on helping him change the way the government was currently set up. “The Spirit of the laws” was written by Baron de Montesquieu shares a view to the general public that the people will only adopt the views of the government that they view as beneficial or good. In America, the Navigation acts were something that the colonists viewed as bad and prohibited them so they stepped
In the letter, Abigail Adams, informs her daughter about how she likes the White house. But throughout it she shows her daughter how she reacts with her new surroundings. She acts spoiled and she complains.
As you will see in this paper, I will point out many ways that these documents are still in effect today. In the end, you will understand how the United States of America came about. There are many things that I can compare to the Declaration of Independence and Common Sense pamphlet. Paine states “That government's sole purpose is to protect life, liberty and property, and that a government should be judged solely on the basis of the extent to which it accomplishes this goal.”
There are many different ways in which the Enlightenment affected the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. One way was the by the idea of a Social Contract; an agreement by which human beings are said to have abandoned the "state of nature" in order to form the society in which they now live. HOBBES, LOCKE, and J.J. ROUSSEAU each developed differing versions of the social contract, but all agreed that certain freedoms had been surrendered for society's protection and that the government has definite responsibilities to its citizens. Locke believed that governments were formed to protect the natural rights of men, and that overthrowing a government that did not protect these rights was not only a right, but also an obligation. His thoughts influenced many revolutionary pamphlets and documents, including the Virginia Constitution of 1776, and the Declaration of Independence.
Along with Enlightenment came European struggle with the monarchy. This led to ideas of a self-governed people and, along with the separation of individuals from religion and government, would inevitably influence Thomas Jefferson’s writing of The Declaration of Independence. The beliefs in equality, justice, and morals were outstanding ideas from the Enlightenment that moved Jefferson to write in the instructive manner in which his purpose was to lead a group of people to believe in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Enlightenment influenced Jefferson’s writings and was responsible for his instructive writing style.
...ating that ‘No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever…but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion ‘ (Document D). Another discussion that kept arising after the American Revolution was how much power the government should have. Having already dealt with tyranny under King George III, the colonists were apprehensive about giving the government too much power. However, in ‘The Federalist’ James Madison states that Government must have the power to control people, but that the abuses of government must be controlled. He states that ‘in framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the greatest difficulty lies in this; you must first enable the government to control the govern; and in next place oblige it to control itself.’
It’s highly important to acknowledge the fact that these special documents are letters. Written with the expectation of only being read between the privacy of a mother and son and husband and wife. They were written during the spark of Republican Motherhood, which is a term that refers to the late 18th century gender roles women took during the Revolutionary Period. Women had to become the educators. Abigail Adams, being a strong model of this “Republican Motherhood”, wrote to her son, John Quincy Adams instilling the virtues that would contribute to his strong political future. She expresses the importance of compassion and the value of observation within the lines of understanding the progression of politics
The reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine was created to argue for American independence. It contradicts the actions that the government does, such as the creations of the new laws. The reading rants about the decision whether America should stay under British rules or fight a war for independence. Paine also distinguishes between government and society throughout his reading. Society is full of people who come together to carry things out, stated Paine. On the other hand, government has the purpose to protect us from our own morals. Society's purpose is to protect life, liberty, and government.
Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan and John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government defied the divine right of kings which basically stated the right to rule came from God. However, both Enlightenment thinkers proclaimed the purpose of authority was to protect human equality and freedom. Voltaire advocated for freedom of speech which would allow the people to express their ideas about government. He also supported freedom of religion which would give the people the right to worship God however they chose. Mary Wollstonecraft advocated rights for women. Jean Jacques Rousseau stated the people should agree to the rules by which they were governed and having an absolute monarchy prevented people from having true freedom. Politically, wars during the 1700s were most often fought within countries over secession to the throne rather than between opposing countries. Wars such as the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolutionary War, and the French Revolution were all a direct result of this democratic Enlightenment
In conjunction with Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the Declaration provided the language of the new era, filled with words like ‘liberty,’ ‘new age,’ ‘asylum,’ and in the negative ‘tyranny.’ The exact wording of the Declaration calls upon the government, requires the government, to protect not only the lives of the people, but their “Liberty, and the pursuit of [their] happiness” as well. This statement is incredibly important, as it frames the government as an agent for the protection of the people, instead of as an agent of control. It is also important to note the portion about the “pursuit of happiness,” because that was a statement that no government, even partially democratic ones had ever promised before. This was hugely significant in what it meant for the people of the United States of America, and the idea of liberalism in general, because it represented a divergence from previous methods, and the creation of a unique idea of government. It also served, not so much as a turning point, but as a severing point between the interests and ideas of Great Britain and of America, demonstrating the creation of a set of democratic ideals that was distinctly American. In Common Sense, Paine supports separation from Great
During Colonial America, religious affiliation was a significant consideration in many aspects of daily life. Politics and religion, for example, were quite intertwined. In fact, many political decisions were influenced by church membership. Authored by Thomas Jefferson, The Virginia Statute for religious freedom, was written, in part, to address this questionable relationship. This statute established the right for religious freedom for all faiths while also abolishing the Church of England in Virginia. This step in the
John Locke and Jean-Jacque Rousseau were both thinkers that contributed to the notion of government by social contract in their writing by expressing ideas of the human state of nature, natural rights and human innovation. The “ideal” government has been debated by many, but these two thinkers identified revolutionary concepts that were discouraged during their time. There are many notable differences between the two thinkers, but there are similarities as well, including their contribution in this period commonly referred to as the “Enlightenment”. It is especially important to note that the American government is founded on some of their concepts because of their efficiency and relatability. Often times, the ones who speak out radical ideas during their time, are later studied and tested to determine effectiveness in government. Despite differences in their writing styles, they both concentrated on more realistic ideas and observations than previous contributors. The common goal is to preserve our lives and create a safe, stable society that is striving for the common good.
Americans, having had the drive and the vision to emigrate here from abroad, were distinct in character and mettle from Europeans. While this belief tended to be particularly prevalent in the northern American colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, by midway through its undertaking, when the idea of an eventual reconciliation with England was abandoned, it increasingly became true for all Americans. Once England had made it clear that there would be no outcome other than victory for one side and defeat the other, America fully embraced the philosophical fervor that characterized the ‘Age of Enlightenment’, which not coincidentally was reaching its apex just as America was coming into being. An era characterized by the passionate interest in philosophy, science, and rational thought to which, its adherent’s argued, all mankind should strive towards, in Europe it was seen as having been constrained by the bonds of outmoded restraints such as Absolute Monarchies and oppressive religious hierarchies like the Catholic Church. America, its founding fathers asserted, would be the first nation where the ideals of the Enlightenment could fully flower without the smothering constraints of decayed and decadent
Today, it seems that people are not interested to determine the truth for themselves. Therefore, the statement of Samuel Adams shows on the most critical aspect of societal continuity and freedom. With this statement he shows. That the meanings of words are often twisted by tyrants. To manipulate the legal authority and subvert established laws. Laws that protect society from usurpation of freedom. So, in my opinion, the statement of Samuel Adams can match the story of Marie de France, “The Lay of Chevrefoil".
These writers believed that there needed to be a new thought process created. Their writings were mainly used for spurring this thought process in like minded individuals. They also tried to challenge pre existing governments. For example, in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense he states, “By referring the matter from argument to arms, a new era for politics is struck-a new method of thinking hath arisen” (642). In this work Paine is showing that there is a new way of thought that is best. He is stating that with this new method of thinking there will be great success in the development of life as these people knew it. Paine also says, “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. Tis’ not the affair of a city, a county, a province, or a kingdom; but of a continent” (642). In this example Paine is trying to convey how great America could be if everyone challenged England and adopted this new method of thinking. He suggests how there has never been a cause that was greater than this. Paine is attempting to facilitate a revolt of the mother land, and with doing this he is wishing to create a sense of national
This letter became famous as it is known and the start of the women rights movement. She pushes for the education of women and worries of the future generations of young girls. She writes her husband, “If you complain of neglect of education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of it?” (Adams 144). She urges for a more liberal plan that might benefit the upcoming generations, mainly women. Adams says there would be great benefit in the “literary accomplishments of women” (Adams 144). Women’s being educated was an issue that deemed of little importance to men and even some women in Colonial America. Women did not believe they would ever have a voice or much less, the right to vote. That would change after the American