Historical Question: How did the enlightenment influence the revolutionary documents?

Document A – Magna Carta 1215

John, … king of England, … we have granted to God, and by this our present charter confirmed for us and our heirs forever that the English Church shall be free, and shall have her rights entire, and her liberties inviolate; and we will that it be thus observed; which is apparent from this that the freedom of elections, which is reckoned most important and very essential to the English Church, we, of our pure and unconstrained will, did grant, and did by our charter confirm and did obtain the ratification of the same from our lord, Pope Innocent III, before the quarrel arose between us and our barons: and this we will observe, and our will is that it be observed in good faith by our heirs forever. We have also granted to all freemen of our kingdom, for us and our heirs forever, all the underwritten liberties, to be had and held by them and their heirs, of us and our heirs forever.

No freeman shall be taken, imprisoned, disseised, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will We proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers and by the law of the land.

To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay, right or justice.

1.  The Magna Carta was written about 500 years before the enlightenment. How can it be considered a revolutionary document?

2.  Who was the Magna Carta designed to protect? How do you know?

Document B – English Bill of Rights 1689

And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, pursuant to their respective letters and elections, being now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation, taking into their most serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid, do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties declare:

·  That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal;

·  That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal;

·  That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law;

·  That election of members of Parliament ought to be free;

·  That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;

·  That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

1.  Who was the English Bill of Rights designed to protect? How do you know?

2.  What type of government is represented in this document?

Historical Question: How did the enlightenment influence the revolutionary documents?

Document C – Declaration of Independence 1776

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

1.  Which country is this document from?

2.  Explain how John Locke influenced this document.

Document D – US Constitution 1787

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Article VI

This Constitution … shall be the supreme Law of the Land.

1.  What is the purpose of this document?

2.  Explain how Montesquieu influenced this document.

Historical Question: How did the enlightenment influence the revolutionary documents?

Document E – US Bill of Rights 1791

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

1.  Who was the US Bill of Rights designed to protect? How do you know?

2.  Explain how Voltaire influenced this document?

Document F – The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen 1789

“The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties;”

Articles:

1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.

2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.

4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.

1.  Who was the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen designed to protect?

2.  Which enlightenment thinkers do you “hear” in this document? Give an example.