Liberalism and PaineI. Liberalism vs. the Classical TheoryII. The American Revolutiona. The Pamphlet WarIII. Common SenseIV. Paine’s model of governmentI. –The British do not have a liberal government- Classical theory-Classical theory- based on Greek writings. (Example: Aristotle, older government)-Liberalism’s current idea- individual rights-Classical theory- man is inherently social.-Government natural forms socially necessary and natural. The Classical Theory is less about why government and more of what form or kind of government.-3 options for government based on number of people who govern:A. government of one person- Monarchy- one person who rules. Very efficient and thereis no debate or discussion. This is vigorous. Nothing to stop you. Pro- efficient and vigorousCon- Tyranny, slide into tyrannical government. No one to stop you. Does not mean good choices.b. Governing by the few- Aristocracy-Pro- assume few people are best and the wisest. Going to be smart and will figure thingsout.Con- Oligarchy- only makes decisions for themselves. Ruled by rich to get richer. They donot care about others because they are only wanting to benefit themselves.c. Rule by the many- Democracy-Pro- can see preferences of the many and will figure out what is best for the most of us. Con- Can end up with mob rule. This will tear the government to shreds. Too many voices and falls apart.-No matter what, it will slide to the negative side of the government. For example, democracy is mob rule. This will not be workable.-Classical theory believes that you need all 3 options (a-c)-Mixed regime:Benevolent- monarchy, few-aristocracy, many- polity (Republic)Malevolent- despotism, oligarchy, democracy-everyone thought British system was perfect because it had all 3 options.-not in egalitarian government because it was not created equal, some have better ability than others did.-Liberalism- individuals created equal by nature.-Colonists have to stop thinking of mixed regime to liberalism-Thomas Paine believed in limited government, natural rights- liberalism who was against the classical theory.-Pushed colonists toward independence. This does not help start the war thought; it only pushes their mindsets to liberalism with the help of Common Sense.-Englishmen were loyal to monarch and parliament-The war starts because the men were beginning to get frustrated which changes their relationship with Britain. They wanted respect and loyalty from the British.-Grievances with the government imposed upon (Example- Stamp Act), colonists mostly blamed the parliament and not the king with taxes and sending soldiers.-No Representation in the British parliament. We want to send representative from colony to represent. Geographic representation. The British say that this is not necessary because parliament represents all of Britain. Then we say virtual representation but the Brits still say that it is not necessary. The men thought that they had no voice.II. –Pamphlet war- political pamphlets were independently published (not with the newspapers). They were widely circulated through colonies and very popular. Political discussion about what was going on.-The Englishmen fight out grievances. It was Englishmen fighting Englishmen. III. English girdle maker- Thomas Paine born in England. He doesn’t ever make it to the colonies (in Pennsylvania). He arrives in 1774 and publishes Commons Sense in 1776 after all the hostilities begin.-Anonymous books are written. Few people used their names.-Common Sense pushes us to independence and this changes the war, it doesn’t start it.-First 3 months sold 120-150 thousand copies. -There were 3 million people in the colonies- 700000 were slaves-People borrowed copies, so everyone read it.-Colonists comfortable being British. Common Sense pushes the “what if” we weren’t British… what if we were a republic? (representative government. People represent you).This puts forth what government you can have after.IV. –We need government but we also need to limit it.-Some rights are protection of rights- Locke’s words.-The colonists help each other because it is better will more people and everyone is equal.-They say that the republican system will work better but there are 3 big problems:A. violates natural equality of man, should be individual.B. it is absurd- checking part in British system (page 7 of the book). Should be able to check each other’s power but it doesn’t.c. British system is too complex (page 6 of book). Not just the parliament. It is too complex to figure out who is accountable if it isn’t working, who is responsible and how to fix it. Can’t figure out how to fix. The simple form of government would work better.-You form government by all coming together under a tree (small group). Natural right to participate. Direct democracy and not a republican. Group is small.-A perfect government for Paine is a direct democracy.-You only move to a republic during necessity, select members (representatives) in charge togovern. Worried mostly about accountability and responsibility.-Frequent elections keep representatives close to you.-A frequent term limits frequent elections-Government should be simple to know if you’re well governed. Nature in reason will tell you if you are well governed and it will tell you if you need a
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