Enlightenment Philosophers
French philosopher. He believed that freedom of speech and religion were the best weapons against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.
Who is Voltaire?
A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
What is a Social Contract?
the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
What is equality?
the division of power among the government to ensure that no one part of government becomes too strong.
What is Separation of Powers?
the time period in the 1700s during which many Europeans began to break away from tradition and rethink political and social norms
What is the Enlightenment?
English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights, they were born fundamentally good and a strong ruler is the only thing that can corrupt them.
Who is John Locke?
The book written by Thomas Hobbes that explored the idea of human nature and how government needs to control the people otherwise they would revolt constantly.
What is the Leviathan?
Credited with starting the Great Awakening, also a leader of the "New Lights."
Who is George Whitefield?
a ruler with absolute power or tyrannical control over a group of people
Absolute Monarch/Sovereign
What is the State of Nature?
French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)
Who is Montesquieu?
A book written by John Locke which stated details about natural rights and that people were born with and entitled to life, liberty, and property.
What is the Two Treatises of Government?
American enlightenment figure who was a scientist and inventor. He changed the way we think about equality and formed his own society of friends to push Enlightenment ideas.
Who is Ben Franklin?
Britain's law-making body
What is Parliament?
Religious revival in the American colonies of the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established. A push to be away from the ideas of the Enlightenment.
What is the Great Awakening?
believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority to govern them. Biggest influence was the English Civil War and religious fighting that ripped through the people.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
Those rights that persons theoretically possessed in the state of nature, prior to the formation of governments. These rights, including those of life, liberty, and property, are considered inherent and, as such, are inalienable. Since government is established by people, government has the responsibility to preserve these rights.
What are Natural Rights?
Preacher during the First Great Awakening; "Sinners in the hands of angry god"
Who is Jonathan Edwards?
the idea that government should be acting in the interest of the people and promoting the best parts of community and society and not encouraging the worst in humanity.
What is the Public Good?
Power is held by the people and exercised through the efforts of representatives elected by the people.
What is Representative Government?
social contract, believed in the general will of the people
Who is Rousseau?
This work by Montesquieu called for a separation of powers and heavily influenced the formation of American government
What is the Spirit of the Laws?
They believed that God had created a perfect universe and then had stepped back to let it operate according to natural laws.
Who are Deists?
a document constituting a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges.
What is the Magna Carta?
a government system where a ruler holds total power
What is Absolute Monarchy?