Unit 1.1 Ideals of Democracy

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Alexander Hamilton

United States statesman and leader of the Federalists

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment philosopher who believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority. Wrote Leviathan.

Thomas Jefferson

Wrote the Declaration of Independence

Limited Government

Government structure in which government actions are limited by law

John Locke

17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

Montesquieu

French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)

Natural Law

God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Republicanism/Representative republic/ Representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions based on the law and/or constitution.

Rousseau

believed that people in their natural state were basically good

Rousseau social contract theory

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed.

U.S. Constitution

A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed.