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The Enlightenment and American Democracy
Enlightenment Ideas
 An intellectual movement that spread from Europe to the Americas
 Influenced the thinking of leaders of the American Revolution
 Core beliefs:
 Truth can be discovered through reason
 What is natural is also good and reasonable
 People can find happiness in this life
 Society and humankind can progress and improve
 People’s liberty should be protected by the law
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
Enlightenment Philosophers
 John Locke
An English philosopher, expressed the idea that people are born with “natural” rights.
These rights include the right to life, liberty, and property. According to Locke,
people have the right to change or overthrow a government that does not protect their
“natural” rights.
 Baron de Montesquieu
A French writer and philosopher, argued for separation of powers within the
government. In his view, each branch of government should serve as a check on the
other branches’ power.
 Jean Jacques Rousseau
Another French philosopher, believed in the natural goodness of people and in
individual freedom. He argued that government should be formed and guided by the
“general will” of the people.
 Cesare Bonesana Beccaria
An Italian philosopher, promoted new ideas about the justice system. He argued that
people accused of crimes had certain rights, and he advocated abolishing torture. His
ideas were based on the belief that governments should seek the greatest good for
the greatest number of people.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
Effects of the Enlightenment
Enlightenment ideas
ideas encouraged
encouraged people
people to
to use
use observation
observation to
to make
make new
new
 Enlightenment
discoveries,
rely
reason,
and
question
traditional
authority.
discoveries,
rely
onon
reason,
and
question
traditional
authority.
The principles
principles of
of the
the Enlightenment
Enlightenment led
led many
manyAmerican
American colonists
colonists to
to challenge
challenge
 The
authority
British
monarchy.
thethe
authority
of of
thethe
British
monarchy.
When Thomas
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson wrote
wrote the
the Declaration
Declaration of
of Independence,
Independence, he
he drew
drew on
on
 When
ideas
John
Locke.
The
Declaration
Independence
states
that
men
thethe
ideas
of of
John
Locke.
The
Declaration
of of
Independence
states
that
allall
men
have
right
life,
liberty,
and
pursuit
happiness.
have
thethe
right
to to
life,
liberty,
and
thethe
pursuit
ofof
happiness.
Many ideas
ideas in
in the
the Constitution
Constitution are
are based
based on
on the
the ideas
ideas of
of Enlightenment
Enlightenment
 Many
thinkers.
thinkers.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
Origins of the American Political System
Ideas Behind the American Revolution
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson drew on the writings of
John Locke. Locke was a British philosopher who said that if government
became tyrannical people should resist it.
Locke’s Ideas
Ideas in the Declaration of Independence
People are born with natural rights of
life, liberty, and property. Sad sods sad
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American colonists had unalienable
rights that the king could not take
away. These rights are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
Government has power by the consent
of the people. People have the right to
change or abolish a government that
does not protect their natural rights.
People have the right to “alter or
abolish” a government that threatens
their unalienable rights. Sided three
error
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
Debates on Drafting the Constitution
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, delegates from the states debated
many issues as they created a new form of government. The chart below
summarizes these debates.
Key Issues
Resolution
North versus South daddy daddy
Should slaves be counted as
population for determining
congressional representation?
The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed for three-fifths
of a state’s slaves to be counted as population. Daddy
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Division of Powers daddy daddy’s
How should power be divided between
the states and federal
government?daddy
The Constitution gives delegated powers, such as
control of foreign affairs, to the federal government. The
states are given reserved powers, such as supervising
education.
Separation of Powers daddy daddy’s
How can the authority of the federal
government be limited? Daddy daddy
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The Constitution created three branches of government
- executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch
limits the power of the others in a system of checks and
balances.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
The Bill of Rights
At least nine states needed to ratify, or approve, the Constitution. Opponents,
called Antifederalists, argued that the Constitution lacked protection of
individual rights. Supporters, called Federalists, said that the Constitution gave
only limited powers to the national government. The Federalists finally promised
to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution so that it could be ratified.
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It is a
summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
The History of the Constitution
States’ Rights vs. Federal Authority
The constitution is the supreme law of the land. In matters that concern the
nation as a whole, a strong central government composed of three branches
takes precedence over any individual state government. However, the
Constitution reserves certain powers for the states. Disagreements between
states’ rights and federal authority led to conflicts such as the Nullification Crisis
and the Civil War.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
Event
Issue
Outcome
Nullification Crisis were
In 1832 South Carolina
moved to nullify, or
declare illegal, tariff laws
passed by Congress in
1828 and 1832. South
Carolina threatened to
secede if the tariffs were
enforced.
Vice President John C. Calhoun,
from South Carolina, developed a
nullification theory. He said that a
state had the right to nullify a
federal law within its borders and
to withdraw from the Union if it
were not allowed to nullify a
federal law. Daddy daddy daddy
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President Andrew Jackson saw
South Carolina’s actions as a
direct challenge to the
Constitution as the supreme law
of the land. He threatened to use
federal troops to enforce the law.
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Congress lowered tariffs,
avoiding confrontation.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
Event
Issue
Outcome
The Civil War (1861-1865)
After the election of
Abraham Lincoln in
1860, South Carolina
was the first state to
secede from Union.
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daddy daddy daddy
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Most Southerners saw the
conflict over slavery as a struggle
between the states’ rights of selfdetermination and federal control.
The Confederacy declared that
states’ rights took precedence
over the Union, the Constitution,
and federal laws. daddy daddy
daddy
Lincoln said states did not have
the right to secede. When
Confederate troops fired on Fort
Sumter, a Union fort in South
Carolina, the Civil War began.
The Union victory four years later
led to the abolition of slavery and
the readmission of the
Confederate states to the Union.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
Expansion of Democracy
The Bill of Rights did not extend to all Americans. The Constitution has been
amended to allow more citizens to participate in the government.
Amendment
Date Ratified Effects
13th
1865
 Abolished slavery throughout the United States
14th
1868
 Gave all citizens equal protection under the law
 Gave citizenship to those born or naturalized in the country
15th
909099 009
1870 99000  No one may be prevented from voting due to “race, color, or
90009
llllprevious condition of servitude”
9099 9099
0990 9090
900999
900999 099
 Resulted in literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses
llllto limit voting rights of African Americans
19th
1920
 Gave women the right to vote
24th
1964
 Abolished poll tax
26th
1971
 Gave 18-year-olds the right to vote
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
The Enlightenment and American Democracy
1. Which statement is a core belief of
Enlightenment thinkers?
a. Only society creates what is good
and reasonable.
b. Truth can be discovered through
faith and reason.
c. Society and humankind can
progress and improve.
2. Enlightenment ideas encouraged people
to
a. affirm their loyalty to the Church.
b. recognize the natural rights of the
government.
c. question traditional authority.
d. give up their natural rights for the
social good.
d. Only rich people can find happiness
in this life.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
The Enlightenment and American Democracy
3. Which philosopher most influenced
4. Montesquieu’s ideas led to
Jefferson’s writing in the Declaration of
a. three branches in the federal
Independence?
government.
a. Beccaria
b. the Bill of Rights.
b. Locke
c. direct election of the president.
c. Rousseau
d. trial by jury.
d. Montesquieu
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
The Enlightenment and American Democracy
5. According to Locke, people have the
right to rebel against or abolish the
government when it
6. The ideas of the Enlightenment
encouraged people in the new United
States to
a. relies only on reason.
a. be loyal to the government.
b. does not protect people’s “natural”
rights.
b. form a government based on law
and reason.
c. is a monarchy.
c. rely on traditional forms of
government.
d. does not have separation of powers.
d. recognize the rights of the British
government.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.1
The Origins of the American Political System
1. The Declaration of Independence states 2. An unalienable right listed in the
that all people have unalienable rights,
Declaration of Independence is
which are rights
a. private property.
a. given by the consent of the people.
b. the right to bear arms.
b. to be free of taxation.
c. freedom of speech.
c. that the government cannot take
d. the pursuit of happiness.
away.
d. that Congress can grant.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
The Origins of the American Political System
3. How does the Constitution limit the
power of the federal government?
a. by refusing to have a single
executive leader
b. by ensuring that both large and
small states are fairly represented
c. by giving the states power to
control foreign affairs
d. by checks and balances among the
three branches of government
4.
Which statement is a reason the
Antifederalists opposed the
Constitution?
a. They wanted the federal
government to have more power.
b. They thought the Constitution did
not protect individual rights.
c. They wanted large states to have
more representatives in Congress.
d. They were against a system of
checks and balances.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
The Origins of the American Political System
“A bill of rights is what the people are
entitled to against every government on
earth . . . And what no just government
should refuse.”
- Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 1787
5. Thomas Jefferson supported the
Constitution. What does this quotation
show about his attitude toward the
Antifederalists?
a. He thought they were dangerous to
the country’s future.
b. He thought they were too worried
about the need for a bill of rights.
6. What promise caused the Constitution
to be ratified?
a. The Antifederalists promised to
accept George Washington as
president.
b. The Federalists promised to give
states more reserved powers.
c. The Antifederalists promised to add
a system of checks and balances.
d. The Federalists promised to add a
bill of rights.
c. He agreed with their call for a bill
of rights.
d. He decided to join them in fighting
ratification of the Constitution.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.2
The History of the Constitution
1. Which laws are the supreme law of the
land?
2. The Nullification Crisis occurred as a
result of
a. state laws
a. an unpopular tariff.
b. executive orders
b. the expansion of voting rights.
c. federal laws
c. the expansion of slavery.
d. the Constitution
d. an unpopular bank.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
The History of the Constitution
3. The nullification theory declared that
4. The Civil War was fought over a state’s
right to
a. the federal government had no right
to regulate trade.
a. abolish slavery.
b. a state had the right to declare a
federal law invalid.
c. the Constitution was the highest law
of the land.
b. pass its own tariffs.
c. regulate voting.
d. secede from the Union.
d. the election of 1832 was improper.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3
The History of the Constitution
5. In practice, what effect did the 15th
amendment have on voting rights?
a. It ensured that every eligible
American voted.
b. It led to new laws to limit voting by
African Americans.
c. It gave the vote to AfricanAmerican men and women in the
North.
6. The 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments
expanded
a. the rights of the states.
b. rights of African Americans.
c. rights for women.
d. voting rights in the United States.
d. It did not affect voting rights.
CALIFORNIA CONTENT STANDARD 11.1.3