Unit 1: Required Terms Flashcards
John Adams
A U.S. President who helped to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Declaration of Independence
Declared the colonies free from Great Britain and justified their reasoning. It said that people should be able to make a new form of government if they don’t like the current one.
Benjamin Franklin
He helped to draft the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Treaty of Paris. He was on the Grand Committee.
Grand Committee
The people at the Philadelphia Convention (1 delegate from each state). They made compromises to sort out different wants for the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton
Helped to draft the Constitution and to make the American treasury system.
Thomas Hobbes and “The Leviathan”
- Supported a sovereign
- Wanted the people to retain their rights
- But thought you had to give up some rights to be happy
- You have to agree to live peacefully
Thomas Jefferson
Drafted and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was an ambassador to France and U.S. President.
John Locke and Natural Law
- Supported and redefined natural law
- Thought that one was obligated to rebel if the kings don’t respect the people
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution.” He was a Virginia lawyer who helped to plan the Constitution and get it ratified.
Baron Montesquieu and “The Spirit of the Laws”
- Separation of powers
- Wanted a republic
- Defined republics as one having limited government power and citizens having political liberty
Natural Law
People are born free and equal. People have to consent to government.
Popular Soverignty
People are the ruling authority and the government just enforces the laws.
Representative Republic
People vote for representatives to vote on laws. Everyone is represented on a national scale.
Republicanism
Leaders are elected for a limited time and make laws and decisions for the public.
Jean-Jacques Rosseau and “The Social Contract”
- People are born free and then are restricted
- Wanted people to give up some rights for the greater good
- Didn’t like the idea of a monarchy ruling
George Washington
President of the Philadelphia Convention, first U.S. President, and led the U.S. in the Revolutionary War.
Anti-Federalists
Opposed to the Constitution and didn’t support a strong central government.
Elite Democracy
The people elect representatives to make decisions with the representatives generally being richer and more well off.
Federalists
People who supported the Constitution.
Participatory Democracy
Citizens vote for the laws directly. It’s hard to do with lots of people nationally, so its typically only used on the smaller scale.
Pluralist Democracy
