Enlightenment Thinkers
Who believed in natural rights: life, liberty, and property?
John Locke
What are 3 of the 5 freedoms in the first amendment?
Religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
Name one of the first colonies
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
What are the three branches of the U.S. government?
Legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What are absolute monarchs?
Kings and queens who had all the power
What does Article 1 set rules for?
Legislative Branch
“No taxation without _____!” What word is missing?
Representation
Which branch makes the laws?
Legislative
Name one Enlightenment idea found in the Declaration of Independence
The concept of natural rights
Who said people are naturally selfish and need a strong government to control them?
Thomas Hobbes
What does Article 2 set rules for?
Executive Branch
What was one of the first flops of the US Government?
The Articles of Confederation
Which branch interprets the laws and can declare laws unconstitutional?
Judicial
Which U.S. document begins with the words: “We the People”
The US Constitution
This Enlightenment thinker argued that government should have separate powers to prevent abuse.
Baron de Montesquieu
What does Article 3 set rules for?
Judicial Branch
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
❌ No power to tax
❌ No president or courts
❌ States had all the power
❌ Hard to make changes
What is the main job of the executive branch?
Enforce and administer the laws passed by the legislative branch
What’s one way the Enlightenment influenced American democracy?
Promoting the idea of natural rights and the social contract theory
Name two ideas from Enlightenment thinkers that directly influenced the U.S. Constitution
The separation of powers and the concept of natural rights
What were the names of the supporters of the Constitution?
Federalists
List three grievances (complaints) the colonists had against King George III in the Declaration of Independence
1. Taxation without representation
2. Quartering
3. Restrictions on Colonial Trade
BONUS: What are checks and balances and why are they important?
Checks and balances are a system in government where each branch (legislative, executive, and judicial) has powers to limit the actions of the other two branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.
LIGHTNING ROUND: Name one key event from each topic (Enlightenment, Colonial, Revolution, Government). 30 seconds!
1, 2, 3, 4,