1st lecture – US History and Government

What were the goals of these characters’ governments?

Comments

So….what purpose do you think government serves?

I. Maintain orderII. Provide public goodsIII. Protect property

John Locke a political theorist argues that government is created to escape the state of nature (a time of no order where neighbor fights neighbor for life, liberty and property).

As a result, crops are not planted, science is not developed, trade does not occur

Function of Government I: Maintain Order

What are public goods?

Pick a public good and in your group figure out how it should be paid for?

Function of Government II: Develop Public Goods

Function of Government II: Develop Public Goods

Problem: the free rider How do we make people pay for

facilities (roads, parks, schools) that are available to everyone but still have to be paid for?

Solution: Government

How do we know who owns what? More important than it sounds – why

maintain a home if it can be taken away? Why create a business that can be shut down at any time?

Government creates rules (sometimes elaborate) to protect who owns what

Function of Government III: Protect Property

Purpose of Government News ClippingsDue: September 11 and 14

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1