Topic 3.4 - Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

deism

A popular Enlightenment era belief that there is a God, but that God isn't involved in affecting people's daily lives; rather God created the universe and all of the scientific and mathematic laws that guide it and set the universe into motion.

clockmaker /watchmaker

Deism views God as a "_________", meaning that God created the laws of the universe and set it into motion without becoming directly involved in people's lives.

Enlightenment

An 18th century movement that emphasized science and reason (and not as much religion) as guides to help see the world more clearly.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people give up their right to live in a state of nature (anarchy) and in return they give their consent to be governed (accept living under a government).

Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau

Enlightenment philosophers that gave us Social Contract Theory

life, liberty and property

Identify John Locke's natural rights?

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Thomas Paine

He was the author of Common Sense

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed Britain did not look out for the colonies best interest and that such a small nation should not rule over such a large area (America).