Unit 4 Liberal Politics - Lesson 1: Intro to Political Liberalism

Summary

This script delves into the development of political liberalism, tracing its roots back to the Enlightenment. It highlights the shift from divine right to individual rights, with philosophers like Locke advocating for limited government and Montesquieu proposing the separation of powers. The American Revolution is discussed as a pivotal moment, influenced by Enlightenment ideas and indigenous societies like the Iroquois Confederation. The script also touches on the French Revolution and its tumultuous path towards democracy, ending with the rise of Napoleon. Finally, it mentions the contrasting views of Edmund Burke, who critiqued liberalism and advocated for conserving traditional values.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the transition from economics to politics, focusing on how societies establish rules rather than resource management.
• 💡 The Enlightenment period is highlighted as a key time when people began questioning traditional structures like the Divine Right of Kings and advocating for individual roles in governance.
• 🗳️ Democratic ideas were revived, drawing inspiration from ancient Athens and the notion that everyone should have a say in governing the country, not just the monarchy.
• 🔍 Several liberal philosophers are mentioned, each with different ideas on governance: Locke supported constitutional monarchy and individual liberty, Rousseau emphasized the general will, Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers, and John Stuart Mill championed democracy and rights for all, including women.
• 🌐 The influence of aboriginal groups, such as the Iroquois Confederation, on modern democracies is discussed, noting their organizational structure and the emphasis on collective needs over individual desires.
• 🏛️ The American Revolution is described as a pivotal moment where colonists adopted Enlightenment ideas and fought for independence due to lack of representation and unfair taxation.
• 🗽 The script points out that the U.S. Constitution was influenced by both Enlightenment philosophers and the organizational practices of indigenous peoples.
• ⚔️ The French Revolution is summarized, showing the shift from a society divided into estates to one seeking Enlightenment ideals, leading to the rise and fall of radical governments and eventually Napoleon's rule.
• 📜 The Declaration of the Rights of Man is noted as a foundational document for rights legislation, influenced by Enlightenment thought.
• 🔄 The script contrasts the establishment of political liberalism in Europe with the rise of classical conservatism, represented by Edmund Burke, who argued for the preservation of traditional values and order.
• 📚 The final takeaway is an anticipation of a more detailed study of political liberalism and democracy in the next lesson.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the Enlightenment period?

The Enlightenment period focused on how and why things were organized the way they were, questioning the Divine Right of Kings and exploring how government and economy should be run.

How did political liberalism develop during the Enlightenment?

Political liberalism developed as people started questioning the existing structures of power and advocating for individual rights and roles in governance, leading to the renewal of democratic ideas.

What was John Locke's view on the role of government?

John Locke believed that the only role of government was to protect individual liberty and was open to the idea of a constitutional monarchy where the dictator was controlled by a democratic constitution.

What contribution did Montesquieu make to the concept of individual rights and rule of law?

Montesquieu contributed to the concept of individual rights and rule of law by advocating for the separation of powers within government, ensuring that legislators, enforcers, and interpreters of laws are distinct entities for fair governance.

What was John Stuart Mill's stance on democracy?

John Stuart Mill wanted a democracy that protected the rights of everyone, including women, which was a more inclusive perspective compared to most other philosophers of his time.

How did the Iroquois Confederation influence the formation of modern-day democracies?

The Iroquois Confederation demonstrated an effective way to organize groups with common interests while maintaining their autonomy, influencing American politicians and the formation of the U.S. government.

What was the rallying cry of the American Revolution?

The rallying cry of the American Revolution was 'taxation without representation,' reflecting the colonists' discontent with British control over trade and taxes without their input.

What was the main issue that led to the French Revolution?

The main issue leading to the French Revolution was the disparity between the privileged first and second estates and the largely ignored Third Estate, which demanded more voice in government.

What document did the French revolutionaries create to establish rights?

The French revolutionaries created the 'Declaration of the Rights of Man,' which served as the basis for most rights legislation, similar to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

How did the French Revolution eventually lead to the establishment of a monarchy under Napoleon?

After a period of radical changes and the Reign of Terror, Napoleon came to power, reestablishing a monarchy by calling himself Emperor, thus cancelling out efforts to bring in a liberal democracy.

What was Edmund Burke's perspective on liberalism and the French Revolution?

Edmund Burke, a classical conservative, rejected the ideas of liberalism, believing that the focus on the individual led to chaos and that the wisdom of tradition and the old regime should be conserved.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Development of Political Liberalism

This paragraph delves into the evolution of political liberalism, tracing its roots back to the Enlightenment. It highlights how the questioning of the Divine Right of Kings and the emphasis on individual roles led to a resurgence of democratic ideals. Key philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and John Stuart Mill are mentioned for their contributions to liberal thought, advocating for individual liberty, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and equal rights for all, including women. The paragraph also explores the influence of indigenous societies, such as the Iroquois Confederation, on the formation of the United States democracy and the American Revolution's fight against British rule, emphasizing the principle of 'taxation without representation.'

05:01

🗽 The American and French Revolutions: Catalysts for Political Liberalism

The second paragraph examines the impact of the American and French Revolutions on the establishment of political liberalism. It discusses how the American colonists, inspired by Enlightenment ideas, sought independence from Britain due to the lack of representation and control over trade and taxes. The successful revolution led to the creation of a new nation with democratic principles. The French Revolution is also summarized, detailing the struggle of the Third Estate against the privileged classes and the eventual rise of radicalism leading to the Reign of Terror. The paragraph concludes with the rise of Napoleon, who established an empire, effectively ending the push for liberal democracy. It also introduces the counter-argument to liberalism presented by Edmund Burke, who advocated for the preservation of traditional values and monarchy, contrasting with the liberal focus on individualism.

Keywords

💡Political Liberalism

Political liberalism refers to a political ideology that emphasizes the protection of individual liberties and democratic governance. In the video, it is discussed in the context of how societies establish their rules, contrasting it with the divine right of kings and emphasizing the role of the individual in governance. The video traces its development back to the Enlightenment and its influence on modern democracies.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. The video highlights how Enlightenment thinkers questioned existing societal structures, including the divine right of kings, and laid the groundwork for modern democratic ideas by promoting individual rights and rational governance.

💡Divine Right of Kings

The divine right of kings is the doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, not from their subjects. The video mentions this concept to illustrate the shift in thinking during the Enlightenment, where people began to challenge this idea and advocate for a more democratic form of governance where individuals had a say in how they were ruled.

💡John Locke

John Locke was an Enlightenment philosopher who argued that the main role of government is to protect individual liberties. In the video, his ideas are presented as foundational to the development of political liberalism and the concept of a constitutional monarchy, influencing the formation of modern democratic states such as the United States.

💡Constitutional Monarchy

A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch's powers are limited by a constitution and laws, often shared with a legislative body. The video uses this term to explain Locke's acceptance of a ruler controlled by democratic principles, contrasting it with absolute monarchy and emphasizing the protection of individual rights.

💡Montesquieu

Montesquieu was a French philosopher who advocated for the separation of powers in government to protect individual rights and ensure the rule of law. The video discusses his influence on modern democratic systems, emphasizing that legislative, executive, and judicial powers should be distinct to prevent abuses of power and ensure fair governance.

💡American Revolution

The American Revolution was a colonial revolt against British rule in the late 18th century, leading to the formation of the United States. The video connects this event to Enlightenment ideas, particularly the emphasis on individual rights and self-governance, and highlights the influence of philosophers like Locke on the founding principles of the new nation.

💡French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 to 1799, inspired by Enlightenment ideals. The video describes how the Third Estate used these ideas to demand more representation and create a form of democracy, leading to significant social reforms and the eventual rise of Napoleon, illustrating the tumultuous path of implementing political liberalism.

💡Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke was a political philosopher known for his criticism of the French Revolution and his advocacy for traditional values and social order. The video presents him as a classical conservative who opposed the radical changes brought by liberalism, arguing that they led to chaos and the neglect of historical wisdom, highlighting the ideological debate of the time.

💡Aboriginal Influence on Democracy

The video discusses the influence of aboriginal governance structures, such as the Haudenosaunee Confederation, on modern democracies. It highlights how early American politicians admired the way these societies balanced local and collective interests, and how leaders prioritized the needs of the group, reflecting principles that were integrated into the US Constitution.

Highlights

Transition from economics to politics study, focusing on societal rules establishment rather than resource management.

Development of political liberalism traced back to the Enlightenment, questioning Divine Right of Kings and advocating for individual roles in governance.

Renewal of democratic ideas from ancient Athens, influenced by liberal philosophers advocating for individual participation in government.

John Locke's view on government's role as protector of individual liberty, and his support for constitutional monarchy.

Rousseau's concept of the 'general will' and its potential to support a dictator ruling in consensus with the people.

Montesquieu's doctrine of separation of powers to protect individual rights and ensure fair rule of law.

John Stuart Mill's advocacy for inclusive democracy, including rights for women, a unique perspective among philosophers of his time.

Influence of aboriginal groups like the Iroquois Confederation on modern democracies, particularly the organization of interests.

The United States as the first modern democracy, influencing other democracies with its government structure and Enlightenment-inspired principles.

The American Revolution's roots in Enlightenment ideas and the colonists' desire for individual rights and representation.

The rallying cry of 'taxation without representation' that fueled the American Revolution against British control.

The French Revolution's social structure based on three estates, leading to the Third Estate's demand for a voice in government.

The radicalization of the French government during the French Revolution, culminating in the Reign of Terror and the eventual rise of Napoleon.

Edmund Burke's rejection of liberalism due to the chaos of the French Revolution, advocating for the conservation of traditional values.

The eventual adoption of political liberalism by most European nations, despite early resistance and the rise of counter-movements.

Upcoming lesson on political liberalism in more detail, with a focus on the study of democracy.

Transcripts

we're now going to move from a study of

economics to a focus on politics which

looks more at how the society

establishes their rules rather than how

they deal with their resources so how

did political liberalism develop well

let's look back to the Enlightenment of

course during the Enlightenment people

started to think about how and why

things were organized the way they were

that idea of the Divine Right of Kings

was losing its power cuz people

questioned how government and the

economy should be run many liberal

philosophers felt that the individual

had a role to play which meant everyone

should have a say in how to govern the

country not just the monarchy this leads

to the renewal of democratic ideas that

had been first tried in Athens Greece a

couple of millennia earlier that's not

to say all the philosophers had the same

idea of how a country should be run

let's review some of the philosophical

ideas we discussed way back in the intro

to liberalism unit Locke felt that the

only role of government was really to

protect individual liberty he was okay

with the idea of a constitutional

monarchy that's a dictator who's

controlled by a democratic constitution

we're so wanted the general will of the

people in force so he could in theory

support a dictator as long as that

dictator was ruling in a way that

promoted the idea of the consensus that

was decided by the group Montesquieu was

the philosopher who helped us see how to

protect individual rights and rule of

law by separating the different areas of

government control he stated that the

people creating the laws legislators

shouldn't also be the enforces of the

laws the executive branch or the

interpreters of the laws whose the

judicial branch that way rules could be

followed and enforced fairly and of

course there's John Stuart Mill who

wanted democracy that protected the

rights of everyone including women which

most other philosophers didn't even seem

to give a thought about now there's a

lot of discussion today about the

influence of aboriginal groups on

modern-day democracies the thing is the

first modern-day democracy was the

United States and essentially all other

democracies have referred to the ideas

in the US government when they organize

their governments we know that

philosophers like Locke had a huge

influence on the u.s. democracy but many

influential politicians and philosophers

like Benjamin Franklin were impressed

with the societies that existed in

with America before European settlement

the hot and asani Confederation also

known as the Iroquois Five Nations was a

great example of how to organize groups

that had a common interest but also want

to maintain their nations interest each

of the nations had control over local

issues but with issues like war they

could work together with other nations

to come to a consensus hmm think about

how Canada's organized province is in

charge of their own concerns but works

together with the Canadian government in

regards to issues that concern the

country some other ideas that impress

the American politicians who were

writing the US Constitution was the fact

that the elder or leader of the

aboriginal groups were often expected to

put the needs of the group above their

own needs so unlike a monarch who's in a

position of power the u.s. president is

expected to serve the needs of the

nation first so how did the American

Revolution start okay well in a nutshell

the colonists in the Americas were

adopting the Enlightenment ideas with

importance of the individual because

they were a colony of Britain they

didn't have the same rights that British

citizens had in the mother country one

of the biggest complaints was that the

British government would control trade

and increased taxes without taking into

consideration the wishes of the

colonists taxation without

representation was the rallying cry of

the revolution when the Americans wrote

their declaration that they wanted to

become independent this was one of the

first lines does this sell like the

ideas of Locke Britain refused to listen

so the colonists took up arms and forced

the British out of the 13 colonies

there's a little side note here there's

a dangerous precedent contained in the

ideas of Locke that a group should be

able to rebel against their government

if your nation state was created through

violent revolution like the United

States was who are you to say that

someone else in the nation-state can't

now rebel and start a violent revolution

to support the kind of state they

support for example should Quebec

separatists be allowed to start a war in

order to separate from Canada right

after the American Revolution the French

who had helped the Americans win their

independence decided they wanted many of

these Enlightenment ideas in their

country so what do you remember about

the French Revolution were you paying

attention in social 20 here's the basics

the society was based on three groups or

estates the first and second estate

which made up about 3% of the population

had all

the privileges while the Third Estate

weren't really listened to by the

government when the King called a

meeting of the Estates General in 1789

to raise money the Third Estate

protested to demand more of a voice in

government they used the ideas of the

Enlightenment philosophers to support

their protest the King locks them out of

the government meetings so the Third

Estate meets in an indoor gym or tennis

court and they decide they're going to

band together and work on creating a

form of democracy in France after a few

violent acts

remember the follow the best deal the

King gave into the Third Estate and

allowed them to organize the government

at first this new government did a great

job building a society based on the

ideas of the Enlightenment they got rid

of feudalism which was basically a form

of slavery they wrote the Declaration of

the Rights of Man which is used as the

basis of most rights legislation in

Canada like our Charter of Rights and

Freedoms but things got out of control

as the government leaders became more

and more radical until the reign of

terror kills anyone who doesn't support

Enlightenment ideas which is kind of an

oxymoron the government justified this

Massacre by saying we must control

individuals in order to protect our

liberal society mmm doesn't that sound a

bit like Hobbes who said people needed

to be controlled in the end napoleon

shows up reestablishes a monarchy

calling himself an emperor and therefore

canceling out all of those efforts to

bring in a liberal democracy there are

revolutions on and off for another half

a century but what's important is the

ideas of political liberalism were now

established in Europe and eventually

most European nations would adopt the

ideas of political liberalism one final

thing while we usually focus on liberal

philosophers during the Enlightenment

not everyone thought liberalism was a

good idea it was the chaos during the

second part of the French Revolution and

the resulting coup d'etat by Napoleon

that led the philosopher Edmund Burke to

reject the ideas of liberalism he felt

that all of this focus on the individual

only leads to chaos and we can't ignore

the wisdom of those who have gone before

us he's what we call a classical

conservative because he wanted to

conserve the values of the monarchy and

the old regime so now in our next lesson

we're going to look at political

liberalism in more detail in other words

we're going to study democracy

you