Enlightenment Thinkers
This philosopher believed that people are born with natural rights, including life, liberty, and property.
Who is John Locke?
This Enlightenment idea says that people have basic rights that cannot be taken away, such as the right to life, liberty, and property.
What are natural rights?
This Greek concept emphasizes the importance of citizens participating directly in decision-making and governing, which influenced the development of democracy.
What is Direct Democracy?
This type of government gives power to the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
What is democracy?
This group supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong central government.
What are the Federalists?
This French philosopher is known for his idea of the separation of powers into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Who is Montesquieu?
This concept suggests that government powers should be divided into different branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
What is the separation of powers?
This Greek idea is the foundation for the legal systems used today, where laws apply equally to all citizens, and legal protections are in place for individual rights.
What is Rule of Law?
In this type of government, one person holds all the power, often without being elected.
What is autocracy?
This group opposed the Constitution, fearing it would give too much power to the federal government without a Bill of Rights.
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
This philosopher argued that government should be a contract between the people and the government, where the people can rebel if their rights are not protected.
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
This idea states that governments should be based on an agreement or contract between the people and the government.
What is the social contract?
This Roman concept of dividing powers among different branches of government, like the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, is meant to prevent one person or group from gaining too much power.
What is Separation of Powers?
This system of government is ruled by a king or queen, and power is passed down through family lines.
What is a monarchy?
This founding father wrote most of the Federalist Papers, arguing for a strong federal government.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?
This thinker believed in religious freedom and that the government should be separate from religion.
Who is Voltaire?
This principle holds that the government’s power comes from the consent of the people, meaning that the people are the ultimate source of authority.
What is popular sovereignty?
This Roman idea of establishing a system of elected representatives to govern on behalf of the people directly influenced the development of modern representative democracies, including the U.S. system.
What is a Republic?
This form of government involves a small group of elites making decisions for the people, often based on wealth or military power.
What is oligarchy?
This former U.S. president is known for his involvement in the Constitutional Convention and for writing much of the Bill of Rights.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
This English philosopher believed that without a strong government, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short," advocating for a powerful ruler to maintain order.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
This idea argues that government and religion should be kept separate to ensure religious freedom and prevent any one religion from dominating the state.
What is the separation of church and state?
In ancient Greece, this practice allowed citizens to discuss and debate important issues in public forums, directly influencing the development of democratic systems where debate is central to decision-making.
What is Public Debate?
In this type of government, religious leaders hold political power, and laws are based on religious principles.
What is a theocracy?
This man is called the "Father of the Constitution" and played a major role in drafting the U.S. Constitution.
Who is James Madison?