US Flashcards
(25 cards)
Time of the constitution framers
new ideas about government challenged conventional wisdom regarding the roles of people and their government, with enlightenment, were politically influenced by republicanism
Enlightenment
18th century pilosophical movement began in Western Europe with roots in the scientific revolution, focus was on the use of reason rather than tradition to solve social dilemas
scientific revolution
16-17th centruy, replaced greek scientific views, science seperates from philosophy and technology
Thomas Hobbes
wrote leviathan (1660), if humans were left to the their own devices chas and violence would ensue. Best way to protect life is to give all power to an absolute monarch. Advocate for rule of law government protects the natural rights of citizens, individuals would need to view government as an authority, social contract with government
Social contract
sacrificing some freedoms to be protected by the federal government
John Locke
second treatise on civil government (1690), beleived all indivduals are born on neutral footing with blank slate (tabula rasa), everything individual knows or does is shaped by experience (empiricism). life liberty and property natural rights granted by god duty of all governments have to respect and protect these rights if not you could revolt
Charles de montesquieu
critic of the monarchy advocate for democray, french philospher (greatly influenced the founders), De l’esprit des lois (spirit of the laws 1748), seperation of power into three branches promoted checks and balances to limit power
Jean-jacques rousseau
humans are born good but corrupted by society, those who are uncorrupted are noble savages, individuals should act in the best interests of the greater good rather than self interest. THe social contract 1762, only good government was freely formed with the consent of the people
Voltaire
Candide satirical novel, aversion to christian power regimes and nobility. proponent of rationality, fierce advocate of freedom of thought speech religion and politics
Denis diderot
producer and editor of first encyclopedia, change way indviduals thought by including his own philosiphies and those of other enlightenment nthinkers in his work, freed of expression and educational access for all, criticized theory of divine right and traditional values and religion
Participatory demcoracy
broad participation in politics and civil society by citizens at various levels of socioeconmic status
Pluralist democracy
organized group based activism by citizens with common interest and the same poltiical goals
elite democracy
discorages participateion, majority of citizens give power to the educated and/or wealthy
Republicanism
repersentative democracy, supports individual liberty and god given rights, all government power is derived from people, rejects aristocracy, civic participation.
representative democracy
elected officials representing a group of people, eg congress
direct democracy
direct vote by the people, many states will have referanda, and some small towns in new england
7 years war
great britain and france over north america, france gives canada to britain, UK in debt, 1756-1763
Time line:
7 years war, taxation (boston massacre and tea party), revolutionary war (declaration of independence), articles of confederation, constitution, bill of rights
7 years war
great britain and france over north america, france gives canada to britain, UK in debt, 1756-1763
taxation
axation: Britain tries to get rid of debt by taxing the US (tea tax, paper tax, stamp tax), US has no seats in parliament
Boston massacre: March 1770, british fire into a crowd throwing snowballs and rocks, 5 colonists killed
Boston Tea party: December 1773, tea is thrown in boston Harbour by colonists to protes
Revolutionary war
pril 19 1775 - September 3 1783, about getting seats in parliment, switches after major losses to getting independence, declaration of independence
Dates of decleration of independence
dopted July 4 1776, said why they want independence and cut ties with britain
dates article of confederation
dopted by constitutional congress 1777, not very good, government could not do much
dates constitution and bill of rights
Constitution: written 1787, ratified 1788, in operation since 1789, originally supposed to be a meeting to make changes to articles of confederation ended up writing the constitution
Bill of rights: first 10 amendments to the constitution made by the states, was written 1789, ratified 1791
