Influences of English and Enlightenment Thinkers on U.S. Government

What did limited government begin with?

The Magna Carta

What ideas did the English bring with them in terms of government?

Principles of limited and representative government.

What was the Magna Carta?

1215 document that limited the power of the monarchs.

What protections did the Magna Carta provide?

Provided protection against unjust punishment, loss of life, liberty, and property.

What ideas did the Magna Carta introduce?

Limited government, due process of law, trial by jury and protecting civil liberties and private property.

What was the Petition of Right?

1625 document that severely limited the king's power.

What did the Petition of Right not allow for Parliament or monarchs to do?

Collect taxes, imprison individual without cause, house troops in private homes without permission, and declare material law unless in the time of law.

What did the Petition of Right establish?

No cruel punishment, no excessive bail or fines, the right to bear arms, the right to petition.

What theory did the Petition of Right challenge?

Divine Right Theory

What is the Divine Right Theory?

Monarch is subject to no earthly authority deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God.

What is the Rule of Law?

Government officials and leaders are subjected to the law.

What was the English Bill of Rights?

Document passed in 1689 that gave certain rights to parliament that further limited the power of the monarch.

What did the English Bill of Rights establish?

Monarchs rule with the consent of the people, monarchs needed to receive consent of Parliament regarding laws, taxes, or any army; monarch could not interfere with elections and debates, people could petition government, right to a fair and speedy trial, and people could not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment or excessive fines and bail.

What type of government did colonist believe in?

Representative government

What is a representative government?

People elect individuals to create laws and run the government on their behalf.

What did English Parliament include?

Representative assembly that enacted laws, an upper chamber (House of Lords) and a lower chamber (House of Commons)

What did the US legislature get its influence?

English representative government

What did John Locke write?

Textbook of the American Revolution on Government (1690)

What were John Locke's philosophies?

All people were born free, equal, and independent. People possessed natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

What kind of government did John Locke want?

Contracted among themselves to form government and protect natural rights. Representative and republic.

If the government was against what the people wanted, what could the people do about it according to John Locke?

Change the government or overthrow it.

Government legitimacy in John Locke's opinion?

Only legitimate if the people consent to it.

What reflected Locke's ideas?

Deceleration of Independence and Constitution

What did Thomas Hobbes write?

Leviathan

What did Thomas Hobbes believe about the people?

People were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish.

What did Thomas Hobbes believe about the state of nature?

Life in state of nature was poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

What kind of government did Thomas Hobbes want?

Absolute monarchy, strong ruler over everyone else.

What was the social contract in Hobbes' terms?

Give up liberty and gain security.

If the government was against what the people wanted, what could the people do about it according to Thomas Hobbes?

The people had no right to revolt against the king.

Why did Thomas Hobbes fear religion?

Would cause civil war.

What did Rousseau write?

The Social Contract (1762)

What did Rousseau's ideas influence?

The Enlightenment

What did Rousseau think that citizens should do?

Citizens should abandon their natural rights in favor of a social contract.

What kind of government did Rousseau want?

Direct democracy with the citizens being the sovereign.

What did Rousseau believe the magistrates should do?

Enforce the laws and protect the general welfare of the people.

What kind of government Rousseau NOT agree with?

Representative government

What did Montesquieu write?

The Sprint of the Laws

What did Montesquieu believe about people?

Individuals were so fearful that they avoided violence and war.

What was the main purpose of government in Montesquieu's terms?

Maintain law and order, political liberty, and the property of the individual.

What kind of government Montesquieu NOT agree with?

Absolute Monarchy

What kind of government did Montesquieu want?

Supported the idea of the king being balanced by the Parliament. Establish a court system (Separation of powers)