Montesquieu: The Rise Of Absolutism And Enlightenment

Due to his high knowledge of the law, he was able to write responses and essays that were very influential to governments. First off, he wrote an opposing response about the Stamp Act, in 1765, stating that taxing colonist without their consent was considered unfair. He didn’t stop

The American Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two very important motivators that changed the colonial society in America through religious beliefs, educational values, and the right to live one’s life according to each individual’s preference.

Louis Riel was a driving force throughout his entire life. He was a traitor to some, a hero to more, and a leader to all. The father of Manitoba’s actions influence Canada even today, through the Métis he so loved and the government he so radically opposed. Without his political action and leadership skills, we might not have the Manitoba we do now. Born in a period of rapid change for Canada and the territory surrounding it, he was the voice of the minority people during the resistance in Red River. He helped create a province that had rights that were best for his people and in doing so, solidified their future. He was a rebel and a madman, trying as always, to help the Métis during the North-West Rebellion even as his mental instability began to take hold of him. Until the day he was hanged so controversially, Louis Riel was a man of religion, of politics, and of belief for his culture. His actions influence Canada even today.

Toussaint Louverture created laws in territories so that the French became independent people and slavery was impossible. Toussaint Louverture found the French that were enslaved and brought to Haiti to ensure that there was no further harm committed against them.

On May 20, 1885, Louis Riel was hung by the order of John A Macdonald for high treason. He was arrested when he ordered a military resistance that became a military confederation called the North-west Rebellion. This was when Ottawa sent thousands of Combat soldiers on their new railway to fight against Louis Riel’s military resistance, he had later been arrested and convicted.

The Enlightenment was a period of time that stressed the importance of reason and individual ideas. Many philosophers published works criticizing a country’s monarch or divulging the flaws they saw in a system within the government, such as the justice system. The Enlightenment also stressed the importance of education, and as a result of this, literacy rates experienced a major upward trend. Now able to read the philosopher’s works, a larger sum of people now were educated on the corruptions within their government. This caused a questioning of traditional practices, and people began to believe they could revise their government. These new ideas played as a catalyst to acts of resistance, or in a broader retrospect, the French Revolution.

This document was written in 1721 as The Persian Letters by Montesquieu with the purpose of mocking French society by attacking the despotism. In the document, he also criticizes the absolutism by pointing out the hypocrisy of the King after his death. This document was directed at The King but it was for the public to hear. This document specifically focuses on and satirizes the abuse of the King’s power during his reign. This document was essential in the success of separation of powers because it pointed out the social class gaps and disadvantages of a monarchy. He aims to show the comparison between King Louis XIV and the oppressive oriental despots. Overall, Montesquieu aims to satirize and define government and society. I think that in criticizing the deceased King, he also points out the lack of human rights by stating that the King, while he had inexhaustible finances, his soldiers and his people are living in poverty. I think that this source is biased but not necessarily false. It seems like it is propaganda to perturb the people about the monarchy, and although many people shared the opinions of Montesquieu, he only provides one argument and only gives his opinions. The fact that he was writing during the Enlightenment helps to explain his purpose in writing because through his papers, he was able to subvert the legitimacy of the monarchy.

1603, canada was inhabited by the indians. In 1534 Francois the first sent Jacques Cartier for his first voyage to explore the new world. Champlain discussed an alliance with the indians and the french King which was accepted and was followed with a small celebration. Champlain continued his exploration and explored the Saguenay River. He quotes that in this new world there are no flat lands, everywhere I look all I see is Mountains. He finally reached Quebec. On his way he spotted many forests and was interested in the wood. Continuing exploration he reached Hochelaga (now called Montreal). As soon as he reached there the lachine rapids created a barrier and his trip further was postponed. Although he was stopped there he was strongly determined

Delving into the documents of 18th century Europe, readers most often come away with the impression of a society dominated by a new enlightened era of reason and knowledge. During this period trade surges, secularism arises, and political reform becomes the foremost issue facing the newly educated, and minted, middle class. From this melting pot, arose countless now famous, and immensely influential writers, philosophers, tradesmen, scientists alike. The writings of one such of these individuals, however, Fredrick the Great of Prussia, a self-proclaimed strict devotee to the enlightenment, seem to be in stark contrast with the ideas of liberalism, and natural rights that were surging through Europe. Despite his devotion to the enlightenment and its principles, close examination of his works, specifically Political Testament (1752), reveal an obvious anterior motive to his grandiose ideas.

Like many people Alexis De Tocqueville set out to do something while accomplishing something else. Tocqueville was born in France in 1805 to an aristocratic family with connections to both the church and the monarchy. He then grew to have a successful academic career. Tocqueville then was sent to America in 1831 by the French government to study the American penal system. While doing his work in America with his colleague Gustavo de Beaumont studying the American prison system by a 9-month journey through eastern America Tocqueville became very interested in American society and the political system as a whole. For he saw it as a good example of what post-revolutionary France could be like. As a result he veered off course and used his work

Historical writings have been around for such a long period of time and they will remain for the years to come. Some of these documents are so great because of their text and some because of who composed the text. We have heard of several popular writers like William Shakespeare,

On the day of November 21, 1694 was the birth of Francois-Marie Arouet, better know as Voltaire. It is rumored that his birth was kept secret and Voltaire himself believed he was born on February 20 and spoke out about this several times. Living a simple middle class life Voltaire

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “I never was truly my own master but was always ruled by circumstance.” Perhaps his self evaluation was correct, but what he did with his circumstance was nothing less than genius for the man who would be Emperor. From his fighting tactics, his insight of people

Regarded as one of the most tactically gifted generals of all time, Napoleon Bonaparte controlled France’s fate after the radical modification brought on by the French revolution. Napoleon is a man of controversy and remains one. Napoleon’s behavior has been considered eccentric by some individuals. However, the question that is being contemplated is whether Napoleon was heir to the French Revolution. Did Napoleon build upon what was founded by the Revolution? Did he, at all, maintain or develop some of the fundamental ideals? Napoleon indirectly influenced and spread ideals of the French revolution throughout Europe, his government and social hierarchy were an embodiment of these ideals.

François-Marie Arouet, or better known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a genius who in his 84 years “touched human activity at almost every point” (Besterman book p.13). Born in 1694, Voltaire was well known since his teens. His reputations were built through his many literate works, innovative ideas, outspoken social reformations, and governmental controversies, and therefore acquired a vast number of over 1800 friends and acquaintances ranging from peasants to highly ranked individuals. Of course, like many famous people, although with plenty of followers, there is, with every light they shed with their creations, always a darkness shadowing their every move so to bring them down. Voltaire’s scholarly conduct and hunger for freedom led