John Locke
These are the three natural rights John Locke said all people are born with.
What are life, liberty, and property
Rousseau wrote that government must follow this—meaning what is in the best interest of society as a whole.
What is the general will
Montesquieu believed dividing government into separate parts is called this.
What is separation of powers
Gatherings held in cities like Paris where people met across social classes to discuss philosophy and government.
What are salons
Thomas Jefferson adapted Locke's natural rights when drafting this famous 1776 document.
What is the Declaration of Independence
Locke believed people are born with a mind like a "blank slate," which is also known by this Latin term.
What is tabula rasa
Rousseau believed in this system of government where all citizens are directly involved in making laws.
What is a direct democracy
This principle promoted by Montesquieu means that the law applies to everyone and no one is above it.
What is the rule of law
An imaginary state where people live with complete freedom, no rules, and no protections.
What is a state of nature
The Framers borrowed Montesquieu’s ideas to structure this foundational U.S. document.
What is the U.S. Constitution
If a government fails to protect citizens' natural rights, Locke said the people have a right to do this.
What is revolt / alter or abolish the government
According to Rousseau, this type of freedom occurs in a state of nature where people follow their instincts without considering others.
What is natural freedom
For Montesquieu, liberty meant peace of mind that comes from having this feeling.
What is feeling safe / safety
An agreement where citizens give up some freedom in exchange for government protection.
What is a social contract
In the U.S. government, this branch is responsible for creating laws.
What is the legislative branch / Congress
Before becoming a philosopher and political scientist, Locke worked in this medical profession.
What is a doctor
When citizens disagree on what is best, Rousseau stated government should follow this rule.
What is majority rule
Montesquieu admired the government of this country because it was divided into a king, Parliament, and courts.
What is England
The belief that a country's leaders should be chosen by its citizens in general elections.
What is republicanism
Instead of direct democracy, the U.S. primarily uses this democracy where elected leaders make decisions.
What is a representative democracy
Locke said governments must protect specific expressional rights, such as moving freely, expressing oneself, and doing this to ask for change.
What is petitioning the government
This term describes the freedom gained when people sacrifice natural freedoms to have their rights secured by laws.
What is social freedom
The system that allows each branch of government to limit the actions of the other branches is called this.
What are checks and balances
The concept that government power comes directly from the approval of the citizens being ruled.
What is consent of the governed
Congress can pass a law, but the President can check Congress by doing this.
What is vetoing the law