Jefferson, DOI

Wow, sorry this is so late I've totally forgotten to post my Perry's on the blog...

Declaration of Independence

• Written to justify the American's break with the British motherland

• embodied principles that were familiar to English statesmen and intellectuals

• Articulated clearly Locke's philosophy of natural rights (life, liberty, and property as essential individual rights)

• "pursuit of happiness" substituted for property

• Locke's view of human nature and the origin and true purpose of political authority, along with the people's right of rebellion

FRQ: “Analyze the methods and degree of success of Russian political and social reform from the period of Peter the Great (1689-1725) through Catherine the Great (1762-1796).”

Thesis: “Both Peter the Great (1689-1725) and Catherine the Great (1762-1796) methods were largely European and degrees of success of Russian political and social reform were largely progressive and continuously more European but these changes failed to reach the mass of the population.

I. The method, degree of success, social reform, Peter the Great

A. Europeanization, St. Petersburg, Forcing Aristocracy to build town houses there, re-shapes aristocracy but with reluctance, making them cut off their beards

B. The masses of serfs saw little social change as they clung to old beliefs and customs, Old Believers

C. A gap begins to grow between masses and aristocracy.

II. The method, degree of success, social reform, Catherine the Great

A. Further Europeanization, the Aristocracy spoke mostly French and became even further separated from the masses

B. Enlightenment Progress: religious toleration with exception of Old Believers, restrictions on use of torture

C. More power conceded to land lords, after rebellion of Don Cossack

III. The method, degree of success, political reform, Peter the Great

A. Created a new administrative system, replaced duma with a “senate” and 10 territorial governments, meritocracy

B. Procurator of Holy Synod, secularized religion

C. Revolutionized the army into a modern western force, territorial expansion seeking a warm water port

IIII. The method, degree of success, political reform, Catherine the Great

A. The instruction, invitation to legislation commission, looking to make a better Russia by understanding it

B. Charter of Nobility, defined rights of nobility, no longer meritocracy

C. Territorial expansion from Partitions of Poland and expansion into Ottoman as the reason she is the Great.

Rousseau, "Emile" and "The Social Contract"

Rob Edwards

Rousseau, “Emile” and “The Social Contract”

Thesis: In “Emile,” Rousseau argues for educational reforms that would instill in children self confidence, self reliance, and emotional security.

• Understands that children shouldn't be treated like adults, but should rather have the freedom to explore and learn about the world

• Reading is the curse of childhood, because it is forced upon them at an age when they don't need it

• Give kids constant exercise to make him strong and healthy in order to make him good and wise

• Children must be a pupil of nature in order to be as self reliant and well educated as possible

• Nature teaches the child much quicker because the child is not aware that he has any lesson to learn, so body and mind work together to carry out only his own ideas

Thesis: Rousseau states in “The Social Contract” that there must be a reform of the political system in order to create a successful society where there is true political liberty.

• Rousseau has a contempt for absolute monarchy and sought to provide a theoretical foundation for political liberty

• “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

  • Human nature is originally good, but has been corrupted by society

• To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man

• All legitimate authority stems from human traditions, not from nature

• “The total alienation of each associate, together will all his rights, to the whole community; for, in the first place, as each gives himself absolutely, the conditions are the same for all; and, this being so, no one has any interest in making them burdensome to others.”

• The general will of the people can successfully direct the State towards the common good

• When factions arise, then the goals of each of those parties overtake the general will and lead to the downfall of the state

• Each citizen should only think is own thoughts without any factions confounding his judgement

Gentlemen,
    For Unit 6, please use this label:  Political Impact of the Enlightenment.
This will keep related summaries under the same broad topic.  The specific title of your article, or the subject of your FRQ prompt, will show in the submission notation at the right of the blog page; there you can see narrower subjects, such as American Revolution, French Revolution, etc.
   Thanks for cleaning up the organization and making the MEHAP blog easy to navigate.
Dr. Clements