Download Lesson 2 Democratic Ideas Develop - Oak Park Unified School District

Lesson 2
Democratic Ideas Develop
MAIN IDEAS
Government Inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment, some European
monarchs undertook important reforms.
Culture Enlightenment ideas helped spark the American Revolution.
Government Enlightenment ideas continued to influence the United
States and the world.
Enlightened Monarchs Attempt Reforms
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why did some European monarchs undertake
important reforms?
Frederick II of Prussia
•• Enlightened despots——absolute rulers who used power in enlightened ways
- made dramatic changes in Prussia, Austria, and Russia
•• Frederick II, reform-minded despot in Prussia, reigned 1740-1786
- urged religious tolerance, improved legal system, allowed free press
Joseph II of Austria
•• Made widespread reforms based on principles of equality, freedom
•• Abolished serfdom; allowed free press, worship (even for Jews)
•• Outlawed torture, death penalty; reforms did not last past his death
Catherine the Great of Russia
•• Reigned 1726-1796; enacted enlightenment reforms of philosophes
•• Urged scientic farming; opened hospitals, schools (one for girls)
•• Serf revolt halted Catherine·s plan to end serfdom; nobles beneted
REVIEW QUESTION
How did enlightened despots try to put Enlightenment ideas into practice?
Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times 1
Democracy in America
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did Enlightenment ideas help spark the
American Revolution?
American Thinkers
•• Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin studied Enlightenment ideas
- believed reason was key to understanding natural, social orders
- urged religious freedom, saw education as way to free the mind
•• Colonial leaders used Enlightenment ideas to oppose British rule
Revolution and the Declaration of Independence
•• American colonies opposed British taxes on goods
- felt it was unfair to be taxed without representation in Parliament
•• Declaration of Independence——claimed independence from Britain
- declaration adopted on July 4th, 1776
- used Locke·s ideas of natural law, human rights, elected government
- dened limitations of government, reecting Magna Carta principles
REVIEW QUESTION
How does the Declaration of Independence reflect Enlightenment ideas?
Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times 2
Spread of Democratic Principles
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did Enlightenment ideas continue to influence
the United States and the world?
Creating the U.S. Constitution
•• Americans defeated British in 1783——Revolutionary War
•• New government drafted Articles of Confederation
- the Articles proved to be weak
•• Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787 to improve Articles
- best political thinkers debated how to strengthen federal government
•• U.S. Constitution written, based on many Enlightenment ideas
•• Bill of Rights added in 1791; based on English Bill of Rights of 1689
French Revolution
•• French rebelled against oppressive King Louis XVI in 1789
•• Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- assured rights to liberty, property, security, resisting oppression
- like U.S. Constitution, did not include rights for women
REVIEW QUESTION
In what ways did the U.S. government use Enlightenment ideas?
Lesson Summary
•• Enlightened despots in Europe tried to make reforms without giving up power.
•• Americans used Enlightenment ideas to justify their break from Britain.
•• The U.S. government is built on Enlightenment ideas and is a model for other
democracies.
Why It Matters Now . . .
Even today, Enlightenment ideals inuence people around the world who are
trying to gain and to protect individual rights and freedoms.
Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times 3