1. What Is Government?

Question 1

When did the founding fathers meet?

Answer 1

The summer of 1787

Question 2

Where did the founding fathers meet?

Answer 2

Philadelphia

Question 3

How many men (founding fathers) met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787?

Answer 3

55

Question 4

How did the founding fathers learn about government?

Answer 4

1. Read and discussed books about basic ideas from political philosophers
2. Read and discussed books about the history of government over the past 2,000 years
3. They had experiences with government themselves. Many were leaders in the American colonies when ruled by Great Britain.

Question 5

What is a political philosopher?

Answer 5

A person who studies and writes about basic ideas about government

Question 6

Why do we want to learn about the founding fathers?

Answer 6

It will help you understand why they created a Representative Republic.

Question 7

What is a founder?

Answer 7

A man or woman who lived in America during the colonial period who influened the creation of our government

Question 8

What is a framer?

Answer 8

A person who wrote our Costitution in 1787 at the Philadelphia Convention

Question 9

Who are some of the Founders?

Answer 9

1. John Adams
2. Mercy Otis Warren
3. Thomas Paine
4. Patrick Henry
5. Thomas Jefferson

Note: these men were not framers because they did not go to Philadelphia

Question 10

What is the enlightment period?

Answer 10

A time of religious and political revival

Question 11

What are natural rights?

Answer 11

Basic rights for all people.

You are born with these rights and they should not be taken away without the person’s consent.

Question 12

What are some examples of natural rights?

Answer 12

Life, liberty, property

Question 13

What two philosophers influenced the development of our government?

Answer 13

1. Thomas Hobbes

2. John Locke

Question 14

What concepts did Hobbs and Locke share?

Answer 14

1. The state of nature
2. Natural rights
3. The social contract

Question 15

Where did Hobbs and Locke’s concepts differ?

Answer 15

1. What drives human behavior?

2. What is the best form of government?

Question 16

What did Hobbes think drives human behavior?

Answer 16

Passion

Question 17

What did Locke think drives human behavior?

Answer 17

Reason

Question 18

What did Hobbes think was the best form of government?

Answer 18

Absolute monarchy

Question 19

What did Locke think was the best form of government?

Answer 19

Constitutionalism

Question 20

What was Hobbes’s “science of politics” principle based on?

Answer 20

The strongest element in nature, which is passion, not reason.

Question 21

How did Hobbes come to the conclusion that kings should have absolute power?

Answer 21

1. The strongest element in human nature is passion.
2. The strongest passion is fear of violent death.
3. This fear gives rise to the natural right of self-preservation.
   Because of this, only a person or persons above the law can make laws.
   Therefore kings should have absolute power.

Question 22

What are the components of Locke’s philosophy?

Answer 22

1. Human nature derives from logic instead of emotions
2. The main purpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights.
3. Kings should NOT have absolute power.

Question 23

What is the state of nature?

Answer 23

A life or society with no government and no laws

Question 24

Which philosopher believed that the state of nature rights could be taken away?

Answer 24

Locke

Question 25

What did John Locke believe would happen in a state of nature?

Answer 25

1. Stronger, smarter people might try to take away other people’s lives, liberty or property.
2. Weaker people might band together and take away the rights of the stronger and smarter people.
3. People would be unprotected and insecure?

Question 26

What is the idea of government?

Answer 26

Belief that people should agree to give up some of their freedom in exchange for protection and security,

Question 27

What is a Social Compact or Social Contract?

Answer 27

An agreement people make among themselves to create a government to rule them and protect their natural rights.

Question 28

What is an example of a social compact?

Answer 28

Mayflower Compact

Question 29

List the types of government.

Answer 29

1. Monarchy
2. Communism
3. Depotism
4. Democracy
5. Republic
6. Oligarchy

Question 30

What are the types of monarchy?

Answer 30

1. Absolue monarchy

2. Constitutional monarchy

Question 31

What is an absolute monarchy?

Answer 31

The king has power over the people

Question 32

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer 32

The people give power to the king (Parliament and Magna Carta)

Question 33

What is communism?

Answer 33

A person or small group controls the economic and social diversity of a people

Question 34

What is depotism?

Answer 34

Dictators, tyrants

Question 35

What is a democracy?

Answer 35

Government where the people have the power to decide leaders and laws

Question 36

What is a republic?

Answer 36

Government where people elect representatives to provide the laws and decisions for the people

Question 37

What is an oligarchy?

Answer 37

Small group of people who rule over the people.

More like a dictatorship, but not a single person.