Foundations of American Government s1

A.P. Gov’t Name: Ms. Newman Period: Foundations of American Government I. Enlightenment

II. Enlightenment Philosophers  Many of the philosophers of this period would have a large influence on our Founding Fathers of the American Revolution and the eventual creation of the American Constitution and our new government Thomas Hobbes  Hobbe’s famous work Leviathan: argued that if humans were left to their own devices, chaos and violence would ensue. 

John Locke  English philosopher who wrote Essay on Human Understanding (1690) & Two Treatises on Civil Government (1690)  Believed God made natural laws to run the social world, and it is up to man to enforce these laws of society  Social contract

 Inalienable rights/natural rights of man

 The purpose of government is to protect these inalienable rights and in return the citizens will obey the government.  If the government does not protect these rights/violates them, the citizens/people have the right and duty to overthrow the government and create a new one  true ______ He was probably the most influential on the American colonists during the revolutionary era Baron de Montesquieu  French philosopher, wrote Spirit of Laws (1748)  Advocated for a ______within a central government to prevent the abuse of power, so that no branch (and eventually a person) would become to powerful   

Jean Jacques Rousseau  French philosopher, wrote Emile (1762) & Social Contract (1762)  Popular sovereignty:

 Social contract:

III. English & Enlightenment Traditions: Video Clip

IV. Colonial Influences  Mayflower Compact (1620) o

o Set up a democracy with ideas of consent of the governed and that the majority rules for the good of the colony. o Drafted and signed by adult males on the Mayflower  Colonial Assemblies (1620-1776) o The American assemblies seized the opportunity created by the lack of strict imperial control to increase their own powers. o The colonial legislatures insisted on controlling taxes and on being consulted on appointments to public office. o 1700-1750 V. Conclusion