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Ideas from English history and the Enlightenment influenced the foundation of American democracy. Documents and events were two principles of English history that created lasting effects with its political ideas and changes in law. Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, Baron De Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau, developed key ideas about natural rights, balanced government, and the social contract. Both concepts impacted the foundation of the American democracy, as it was strongly portrayed in the document, the Declaration of Independence. In English history, ideas about political rights and good government were rooted in documents and events. For example, the Magna Carta indicated that the king and nobles must respect the law, while the English Bill of Rights stated the Parliament alone had the power to make levy taxes and government rules. Another document that created lasting changes was the Declaration of Independence, which gave people the right to overthrow an unjust government and replace it. It allowed colonists to rebel against colonial rule and declare indepe...
The enlightenment ideas affected politics for both the French and the American peoples through the form of government and individual rights. Thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, believed in the individual right of man as a citizen of a sovereign nation. In 1789, Marquis de Lafayette used Rousseau and other free thinker’s ideas to draft his Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen to the National Constituent Assembly in France (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/revolution/america_france.html). This established universal rights for individuals that always existed at all times. The document shows many similarities to American documents such as the declaration of Human Rights in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. For instance, they all show a relationship through the declaration of individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion. However, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen focuses more on individualism while American documents focus more on a community “We the People” (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoin...
The Magna Carta was the first document in which English subjects to force English king into power; granting and protecting the subjects’ rights. This was important since the king at the time could do anything that he so desired. However, in practice, this English legal charter did not limit the king’s power. The Magna Carta is the beginnings of American freedom. It is also the foundation of the American Constitution, reflecting English freedom and the power of the English government.
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. The Bill of Rights was created as a listing of the rights granted to citizens, the Bill of Rights serves to protect the people from a too powerful government. These civil rights granted to U.S. Citizens are included in the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, Locke’s ideas about checks and balances and the division of church and state were later embodied in the U.S. Constitution as well. The Constitution replaced a more weakly organized system of government as outlined under the Articles of Confederation.
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.
The Magna Carta, a document signed almost eight hundred years ago, paved the way for the rights of citizens. Many of these rights stated in the Magna Carta shaped the formation of other Governments, such as the American Government. Those rights are ideas that many citizens take for granted today. The Magna Carta is a prime example of Rights and Responsibilities in History because of the ideas and laws it placed in England during the time. Many of these ideas are still carried and used in not only England, but the majority of Europe and other World Powers today.
Many English ideas influenced the making of democracy. The Petition of Rights is a major English constitutional document and was one idea that helped to shape democracy. This document stated that no free man could be deprived of his liberties. In addition to this document, the Parliament of England also created the Habeas Corpus Act. This act stated that people unlawfully detained cannot be ordered to be prosecuted before a court of law. In other words, it prevented imprisonment for unknown crimes. Furthermore, one of England’s biggest influences on America was the Bill of Rights. This helped to create democracy by supporting rights such as freedom of speech and the l...
...d (Locke, 4). By exploring these two ideas of the social contract between a government and its people, as well as the natural rights of man, Locke created many waves in England, as well as impacted several important intellectuals who would later be responsible for the American and French Revolutions.
The Declaration of Independence listed the grievances such as, “He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” The next important step to the foundation of a new government was to gain peoples ambition by showing how the government would be run if a new party took over. This goal was achieved by stating the rights of man. “We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This statement made people hopeful and feel kindly toward this new government.
The writings that were created by them during their time, have shaped the basis of the US government. Locke’s belief that all men have the right to life, liberty, and property was incorporated into the US Bill of Rights. Montesquieu’s thesis that the government should be divided into three powers and no one power can overpower the others, is the way the US government is ran in order to created laws for the people. Finally, Rousseau’s idea that people have the right to happiness was included in the Declaration of Independence, and his idea of people coming together as one to create a general will was generalized in the US Constitution within the first line. It is important to know how the Enlightenment ideas impacted the world socially and politically because, it tells one about how their government came to be and how it operates. In conclusion, each philosopher played a different role to how the government is ran, and their ideas made a huge impact on the
Many people think that America’s founding fathers were the originators of revolutionary principals that America is based on. They give complete credit to men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Gorge Washington to how America is today. But in reality, earlier enlightenment philosophers came up with the ideas. Enlightenment philosophers, such as John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu, where thinkers that started to judge and doubt the status quo of social structure, religion, and government in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the time these philosopher’s ideas were radical, and even considered senseless. Now because the founding fathers introduced these ideas into America, we see that these ideas work. The founding fathers used an incredible amount of ideas from enlightenment philosophers such as natural rights, separation of power, and consent of the governed.
While the Enlightenment criticized monarchy governments, it influenced democratic forms of government. Without the Enlightenment and the help of France, the United States wouldn’t be what it is today.
The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement in the late 17th century that involved emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition, which was first used by philosophers. Not only were the philosophers able to amend European society, but also contributed with the development of the American government into how it operates today. French political philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu and his work was a tremendous factor and influence throughout the formulation of America's government. His ideas and thoughts of how a society should be ran eventually was adapted by the Founding Fathers while creating the Constitution. Baron de Montesquieu influenced the construction of American government by introducing the concepts of the
One of the most important documents of the Medieval Era is the “Great Charter” or Magna Carta of 1215. Signed at Runnymede, England, this document was the first to establish the common law and this was the first time a king no longer had absolute and total power. King John was known for the signing of the Magna Carta, though against his will. He was one of the more questionable and somewhat tyrannical monarchs of England and his actions are what sparked the creation of this charter. There were many events caused and acted upon by King John that made people want to limit the power a king could have, especially King John.
The Magna Carta, or 'Great Charter,' has been hailed as a'sacred text' of liberty in the Western World. It is widely regarded as one of the most important and revered legal documents in history; it is a document that was forced upon English King John by his barons at Runnymedel (Linebaugh 6). It is today the basic foundation of the Constitution of England2 (Sommerville Web). For over seven centuries, the English have eulogized the Magna Carta as not only the foundation of freedom but also their earliest and best protection against arbitrary governmental interference with individual liberty. According to the Guardian Newspaper issue of June 1st, 1956, Lord Alfred Denning during the service commemorating the Magna Carta’s 150th year anniversary is said to have described the Charter as “the greatest constitutional document of all times- the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot.”