Lecture 1 Flashcards
John locke
1632-1704; english doctor and enlightenment philosopher who used reason to think about government
what did enlightenment philosophers emphasize?
human reason over simple acceptance of tradition
Locke’s theoretical state of nature
in the State of nature, people are free and equal;
the state of nature is governed by natural law which says DO NO HARM
age of enlightenment
lasted from the late 1600s to the late 1700s
who has the right to enforce natural law?
everyone
the state of nature is ______
unsafe; unsecure
according to Locke, the solution to the state of nature is ____
government
in a democratic gov. people trade some of their liberty for what??
security
FED essay #2
you trade your right to enforce natural law;
you accept the will of the majority, even if you disagree
your remaining freedoms are _______
safer and more secure
after 9/11 the NSA conducted_______
warrantless electronic surveillance of suspected terrorists
who did john locke and other enlightenment philosophers heavily influence?
American founders
The Declaration of independence asserts that
people are inherently free and equal and that good government comes by consent
“there is no word that admits of more various signification…..than that of liberty”
montesquieu
there are different visions of freedom and equality
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
negative freedom
government absence; freedom “from” interference
positive freedom
requires government aid i.e. (freedom “to” free healthcare)
equality “before the law”
the government treats everyone the same
equality of “opportunity”
the government helps certain disadvantaged groups
“a little boost from the gov”
the founders first attempted a national government through
the articles of confederation
the articles were a “league of friendship” between sovereign and independence states
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
there was no president or supreme court but there was a _____
congress
what was each state responsible for?
contributing taxes and troops upon request; but the national government had no power to enforce its requests
under the articles, the national government was not strong enough to fend off foreign powers TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
under the articles the national government was also threatened by what?
domestic unrest;
poor farmers were desperate for relief from debt and high taxes;
many states had financial difficulties paying off war debts;
from the articles of confederation to
a more energetic government
patrick henry
was a vocal Anti federalist
“Give me liberty or give me death!”
constitutional convention in philadelphia
1787; held by founders; GOAL: to replace the articles of confederation
James madison
“father of the constitution” was one of the delagates from virginia; small man with a mighty intellect
the new constitution sought to balance the trade off between
liberty and security
three unique features of the U.S. constitution
- republican form
- separation of powers
- federalism
our government is representative
- constitution established a republic or indirect democracy
- people choose who will make decisions rather than make decisions directly
- direct democracy is not practical for a large country
