The Rise of Democratic Ideals Study Guide

Study guide

Direct Democracy:

Government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.

Monarchy:

Government controlled by one person.

Aristocracy:

State ruled by the noble class.

Oligarchy:

Government ruled by a few powerful.

Republic:

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, this means it has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Constitution:

The constitution created a federal system. In this system the powers of government are divided between the federal and the state governments.

Magna Carta:

Document drawn up by nobles in 1215 guaranteeing basic political rights in England.

Common Law:

Body of English Law that reflected customs and principles established overtime.

Martin Luther:

Initiated the Protestant Reformation.

Divine Right:

Theory that a monarch’s power came from God.

Glorious Revolution:

Bloodless overthrow of King James ll of England and his replacement by William and Mary.

Galileo Galilei:

Italian scientist who invented the first working telescope.

Issac Newton:

English scientist who discovered laws and motion of gravity.

Denis Diderot:

He was best known for being the chief editor of the Encylopede.

Voltaire:

Voltaire fought for tolerance, religion, freedom of religion, and free speech.

Thomas Hobbes:

An enlightenment thinker that believed that the best form of government was absolute monarchy.

Social Contract:

An agreement among the members of society to cooperate for social benefits. For example, this could be by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Montesquieu:

He said that the government should be kept under control to protect people’s freedoms.

Separation of Powers:

Division of the government into separate branches.

Rousseau:

He said that the only legitimate government was one in which people chose what was best for the community.

Popular Sovereignty:

This concept holds that the government should serve people and is established and maintained by their will.

Heliocentric Theory:

Idea that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

Beccaria:

He spoke out against abuses of justice and in favor of all people’s rights. He believed that laws should be based on fairness and reason.