Key Terms Flashcards
Sovereignty
Ultimate political power- having the final say.
Human Predicament
The cycle from tyranny to anarchy, to which sovereign power and its ill effects give rise.
Tyranny
Absolute power centralized in one person (or small group); part of the human predicament cycle.
Revolution
A means of removing tyranny from power; part of the human predicament cycle.
Anarchy
No one person (or small group) maintains absolute power.Characterized by mass disorder caused by failure to agree on a common cause of action; part of the human predicament cycle.
Good Society
Reasonably stable and prosperous society without oppressive tyranny. Usually includes peace, respect, vibrant, culture, and personal freedom to live the way one chooses.
Arete
Greek term for virtue, the backbone of republican morality. Striving for excellence.
Political Legitimacy
Ruling by a sanction higher than stark necessity; sanction may stem from divine right, wisdom, or consent.
Divine right of kings
Political theory that royal lines are established by God and that kings rule by divine decree.
Theocracy
Divinely inspired rule, or rule by religion
Aristocracy
Rule based on distinguished or wise and heritage.
Human nature
The fundamental disposition of humans that determines our behavior.
Autocracy
One of the four alternative forms of government; sees people as children in need of a carefully controlled environment provided by government.
Classical republicanism
One of the four alternative forms of government; sees people (and government) as mostly good but corruptible and so government should have restricted power and try to encourage a good moral climate.
libertarianism
One of the four alternative forms of government; sees the most important value as individual freedom and holds that government should only protect that freedom and nothing more.
Liberalism
One of the four alternative forms of government; sees people in the most favorable light, but institutions or other influences can corrupt them, so government is necessary to protect them from such corruption.
Social compact
The social concept of a group of autonomous individuals living in a state of nature, making a common agreement about the sort of political world they want to live in.
Corporate Communities
Colonial settlements established for economic or financial purposes by various companies. Although often charted by the Crown, their remote circumstances helped foster ideas of self-governance
Indentured Servitude
Land owners would pay the passage of those willing to come to the colonies in exchange for an agreed upon term of service, after which the indentured servant was released from his obligation and was then free to seek his own fortune.
Covenant Communities
Settlements based on religious or moral values, mostly interested in being an example to Europe or living according to their own moral liberty.
Pilgrims
Small congregation of separatists seeking to distance themselves from the church of England by emigrating to New England.
Puritans
British religious emigrants who wanted to reform the Church of England rather than sever all ties with it; their belief in Christian Calling, Moral self-governance, and in being God’s elect would help shape the founding and American national character
God’s Elect
From John Calvin’s predestination theology, the doctrine that God has already chosen those who will be saved. these elect people are to build a community as an example
The Christian Calling
From the theology of John Calvin- people should pursue a calling in some sort of worldly work where they are able to rise early in the morning work hard, save their money, and invest it wisely. prosperity showed Gods approval.
Moral Self-Governance
Puritan ideal that all must live a righteous life largely on their own, with each man being responsible for his or her own actions and those of his family, and kepp an eye on his neighbor
City Upon a Hill
Biblical idea, invoked by John Winthrop, of a society governed by civil liberty (where people only did that which was good and just) that would be an example to the world.
Natural Liberty
Where men are free to do what they please, without regard for the moral calue of their actions
Civil Liberty
According to John Winthrop, “where men were free to do only that which is good, just, and honest.”
