Chapter 2 Flashcards
Town meeting
Gathering in which residents meet to make decisions for the community
Jonathan Edwards
A Massachusetts preacher who called on people to examine their lives and commit themselves to god
Freedom of the press
The right of the newspapers and other public media to publish articles believed to be accurate
John peter Zenger
Arrested for printing and article that showed the governor in a negative light
Libel
Publishing a statement that ruins a persons reputation
Enlightened
Free from the superstitions and ignorance from the Middle Ages
Absolute monarch
A ruler with complete authority over the government of the people
Divine right
Believe that a ruler’s authority comes from god
Natural right
Rights that belong to people from birth
Baron de Montesquieu
French philosopher who wrote ‘The Spirit of the Law’ which challenged the idea of divine right. He argued that powers of government should be clearly defined and limited. He favored separation of powers and suggested that government should be divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Separation of powers
Division of the power of government into separate branches
Ben franklin
An enlightenment thinker from Philadelphia who was a printer and studied, science, math, lit, and philosophy. Invented the lightning rod, bifocals, first lending library in the colonies, and first anti slavery societies in the colonies. Supported enlightenment ideas on human liberty
Loyalists
People who remained loyal to Britain
Mercenaries
A soldier who fights because he is being paid, not because he believes in the cause
Alliance
An agreement between countries to aid and support each other
