2. Objective
Learning Objective:
What influence did European political
thinkers have on the development of
American democracy?
John Locke
Charles-Louise Montesquieu
3. Do Now (Academic Vocabulary)
Natural laws: A body of unchanging moral
principles regarded as a basis for all human
conduct.
Bicameral Legislature: A legislature (lawmaking body) divided into two houses.
4. 17th & 18th Centuries - Enlightenment
Although it was a promising development for
democracy, the Magna Carta was mostly ignored as
the world moved toward the Dark Ages.
Oppression and high mortality rates were the norm
and it seemed like chaos; until something emerged
from the darkness: reason.
But it began slowly!
5. 17th & 18th Centuries - Enlightenment
It finally began to dawn on people: “Hey, what if we
stop piling up our corpses in the drinking water and
see if that makes any difference to our health?”
From then on, it was smooth sailing…reason had
gathered momentum.
Very soon, all conventional wisdom, from the shape
of the Earth to ideas concerning politics, was up for
grabs.
6. 17th & 18th Centuries - Enlightenment
The Enlightenment, with its emphasis on reason,
would provide democracy with its philosophical
underpinnings.
The 17th & 18th centuries produced a wave of thinkers
who held dear the notion of political systems based
on “the social contract.”
Government, they said, was a sort of legal agreement
between the rulers and the ruled, the terms of which
were binding on both parties.
This was a groundbreaking theory!
7. 17th & 18th Centuries - Enlightenment
All they needed now was some country dumb enough
to try it before the King found out and had them all
drawn and quartered.
Democracy needed a fresh start. It needed tough and
idealistic champions who could strike out for the new
world, willing to risk everything for the principles of
equality, liberty, justice…. *.
and slaves
*and slaves
8. John Locke (write this down)
Wrote that the English people had the right to overthrow
James II since the government had failed under James to
perform the basic duty, which was protecting the rights of
his people.
All human beings had, by right of nature, the right to
life, liberty and property.
The Greeks had also based their democracy on these
natural rights.
The power of the government didn’t come from the
government itself but from its people.
9. Montesquieu (write this down)
Recognized liberty as a natural right.
Believed any group of people in charge will always try to
gain more power.
Like Greek philosophers, he wanted a way to keep the
government under control.
He arrived to the conclusion that separation of powers
was the best way to protect liberty
He divided the government into 3 seperate branches:
legislative (makes laws)
executive (enforces laws)
judicial (interprets laws)
10. Video Clip
Watch the following video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUilUzH5kx8
What is your perception of government? Write one
paragraph.
