Philosophers
Believed people were born with the right to Life, Liberty and Property.
John Locke
Included the right to life, liberty, property, and the freedom to find happiness.
Natural Rights
People are born with a mind like a blank slate.
Tabula Rasa
Went to Paris no behalf of the colonies.
Benjamin Franklin
Period of time when people developed new ideas about human existence, including peoples’ basic rights and the level of control they should have over their governmen
Enlightenment
One of the great thinkers of the 17th and 18th centuries. he believed in a Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances.
Baron de Montesquieu
No government with no rules and complete freedom—but without any protection from each other.
State of Nature
Those things that are in the best interest of society as a whole.
General Will
Said that the General Will, those things that are in the best interest of society as a whole, are the most important.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Believed that Liberty is the peace of mind that comes from being safe.
Baron de Montesquieu
Wrote the Declaration of Independence and wanted a two-party political system.
Thomas Jefferson
Idea that a country’s leader should be chosen by the citizens in a general election.
Republicanism
Thought that rulers could anything that they wanted and that without a powerful ruler a country would not be safe.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Believed in both Natural Freedom and social Freedoms
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
This type of freedom happens when people sacrifice some natural freedoms so they can have the freedom that comes with security and protection.
Social Freedom
Rejected the idea that leaders can earn the right to rule by being morally good.
Niccoló Machiavelli
Citizens give up some freedom they would have in a state of nature in exchange the government protects citizens’ right to life, liberty, and property.
Social Contract
Philosopher who believed in a small government with limited powers.
Thomas Jefferson
Later thought that governments of the are better than those of princes
Niccolo Machiavelli
This happens when more than half the people want something.
Majority Rule
Believed that a government’s purpose is to protect liberty, or freedom, and to help people get along.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
If a government failed, then citizens would no longer agree to be governed and they would have the right to revolt.
Consent of the Governed
Philosopher who said that governments purpose was to protect liberty, freedom and to help people get along.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thought there should be Checks and Balances built into governments.
Baron de Montesquieu
Believed there were two types of Democracy, both Representative Democracy and Direct Democracy.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau