Early Modern Ideas of Liberty

Flashcards covering key concepts related to early modern ideas of liberty and the expansion of human rights.

Magna Carta

The 'Great Charter' signed in 1215, which limited royal authority in England and established that everyone, including the monarch, is subject to the law.

English Civil War

A conflict from 1642 to 1651 between King Charles I and Parliament over governance, leading to Charles I's execution.

Natural Law

The philosophy that certain rights, such as life, liberty, and property, are inherent and discoverable through reason, as believed by John Locke.

Negative Liberty

The freedom for individuals to make choices without interference, often described as being left alone to pursue one's own path.

Positive Liberty

The freedom to actively participate in civic community life, emphasizing communal obligations and decision-making.

Social Contract

The theory that individuals give up some freedoms to a governing body in exchange for protection and social order, as proposed by Thomas Hobbes.

Bill of Rights (1689)

An act that was signed in England establishing limits on royal power and defining rights for individuals, including the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

Corruption

The act of individuals seeking power for private gain rather than the common good, seen as a threat to positive liberty.

The Curse of Ham

A biblical narrative historically used as justification for the enslavement of people, particularly in relation to claims about race.

Othering

A concept where certain groups are deemed inferior or 'savage', often used to justify imperialism and subjugation.