Definitions
Self-Government
Self-government is related to the concept of autonomy. It is the ability of an individual, a state, or a country to govern itself. Self-governing states are free from oversight by higher governments, including external influences. In other words, the political authority of a state comes from its citizens
Explain John Locke’s theory of natural rights/law.
Major Belief: Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Property)
Contributions: To protect people's stuff(aka Their natural rights)
What is the Magna Carta ?
What was the document?
(Magna Carta(1215))
Magna Carta Document was the first ever attempt to limited the power of the King of England and make sure the King had to follow all the laws of the kingdom Which Guaranteed all People rights
What are the important ideas within the Magna Carta and how did they impact our founding fathers’ idea of government?
Limited Government
What was the main reason the colonists become increasingly unhappy with the British Government?
The treatment of the british became intolerable
Taxation with representation
Intolerable acts
Quartering Act
Tyranny
a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler. 2. : harsh, cruel, and severe government or conduct.
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone must follow the rules
Explain the significance of the English Bill of Rights and how it impacted the Constitution.
Document that gave additional rights to the people of England (i.e. freedom of speech, no cruel or unusual punishment, etc.)
Ideas our founding fathers gained from it.
Create the stage for Pre-Set rights which government had to respect
E.g due process/limited government/individual rights
How did the British government respond when colonists in Boston became rebellious to their policies?
They responded with even more strict Laws and policies
AKA the Coercive acts
Oppression
a combination of prejudice and institutional power that creates a system that regularly and severely discriminates against some groups and benefits other groups.
Describe Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers.
Big Idea: Separation of Powers
Purpose of Government: To maintain law and order
the best form of government was one in which the legislative, executive, and judicial powers were separate and kept each other in check to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.
What does the phrase “natural rights” mean?
God Given Rights
Nautral rights
What impact did the Mayflower Compact have on our founding fathers idea of government?
A self-governed body can be very effective and it continued the idea of law made by and for the people. This idea lies at the heart of democracy and made a significant contribution to the creation of a new democratic nation.
Self-evident
“all Men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights' are obviously true.
How did Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers influence our founding fathers?
The Founding Fathers, most especially James Madison, drew upon Montesquieu’s theory of the separation of powers when drafting the Constitution.
Montesquieu argued that the best way to secure liberty and prevent a government from becoming corrupted was to divide the powers of government among different actors who would check each other
It heavily influence that the different branches of government
Judicial Branch
Executive branch
Legislative
. What does it mean in the D.O.I. by “People are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights?”
People are born with certain rights that can’t be taken away
What was Common Sense and what impact did it have on our founding fathers?
A pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
Founding Fathers Gained
Declaring Independence
Social Contract
People agree to give up power to the State in return for the State's service to the general well-being of the people
Compare Locke’s natural law theory with that of Jefferson’s natural rights listed in the D.O.I.
Locke is notable for making the statement that all men have the right to pursue “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property.” In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson alters this statement to state that all men have the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” John Locke fused “individualism
What does it mean in the D.O.I when it says “Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed?”
Governments get their power only if citizens give them permission
What does it mean in the D.O.I when it says “Governments are instituted among men to secure these rights?”
The purpose of government is to protect the rights of the citizens.