Unit # 4:The Founding PeriodPart 1
Ms. Jennifer L. Blank10th Grade Global Studies
INTRODUCTION TO THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF OUR FOUNDERS
Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Franklin
Key Question:
What is the proper role of government?
Should it be BIG or small?
What is Political Philosophy?
• The study of human social organization and of the nature of man/woman in society.
• Basically, it’s the examination of how society should be organized, how men and women interact in that society, and what their role is in society.
• When we talk about government, it means we examine the role that government should play in our society.
DO YOU KNOW THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF OUR FOUNDERS?
HINT! →
← HINT!
CLASSICAL LIBERALISM!
Why Classical Liberalism?• Founders were children of the Enlightenment
• The were mistrustful of govt.
• American colonies were mistreated by a strong central govt. from far away • They were so pissed off they started a war!
• They believed they deserved certain rights simply because they were human – govt. had no right to infringe upon these rights• These rights are called natural rights
Definition & Characteristics:• The belief in liberty that formed the ideological and theoretical basis
of U.S. Government.
• Rights do not come from government
• Certain rights are natural rights• We get them because we are human
• Key characteristics are: • (translate the concepts below into your own words)• Limited government• Rule of law• Avoidance of arbitrary or discretionary power• Sanctity of private property & freely made contracts• Personal responsibility
Types of Liberalism:
• Classical (our focus)• Philosophy of founding fathers• Govt.’s job is to protect natural rights, nothing more & nothing less
• 20th Century (not our focus)• Less emphasis on economic liberty• Believed govt. should regulate economy
END OF PART 1
