Study Guide

State of Nature, Social Contract, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact

1. Natural Rights

• Life

• Liberty

• Property

2. Define State of Nature

• No Government

• No protection of natural rights

3. Life Difficult in a State of Nature

• No protection for those who are weaker

• In a constant state of survival

4. Define Social Contract

• Agreement to give up some liberties to a government in exchange for protection of natural rights

5. Popular Sovereignty

• Popular Sovereignty - the people have the power ; The Right of Gov’t to exist comes from the people

6. Baron De Montesquieu

• Separation of Powers – separate government into 3 branches to keep the gov’t from becoming abusive

7. Legislature

• Law making body of gov’t

• In Great Britain - Parliament

8. Separation of Powers

• Limits the power/ability of gov’t

9. Important to Limit Gov’t

• So that it cannot become abusive

10. Thomas Hobbes

• Social Contract

• People allow rulers that will protect their rights

11.Baron de Montesquieu

• Separation of Powers

• 3 branches of government

12. Voltaire

• Right to freedom of political speech, religion, etc.

13. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Popular Sovereignty

• Citizens

14. Magna Carta

• Created by the barons and signed by King John

15. Peasants and Barons

• Peasants – Poor Farmers

• Barons – Upper class rich aristocrats; nobility

16. Effect of the Magna Carta

• Limited the power of the King

17. Significance of Mayflower Compact

• First written plan of government in America

• Set example for the Declaration of Independence/Constitution

18. Necessity of Mayflower Compact

• Stop mutiny among the Pilgrims/Puritans

19. Written and Signed

• The 41 men of the Mayflower ship

20. Direct and Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy – all are involved in running the community

• Representative Democracy - Leaders are elected to run the community

21. Which is which?

• Jamestown – Representative Democracy

• Plymouth Colony – Direct Democracy

22. Glorious Revolution

• When Parliament forced King James II from throne and gave it to William and Mary

• (Mary was the daughter of James II)

• 1688

23-25. English Bill of Rights

• No prison without due process (following proper procedures)

• No loss of property without due process• No cruel Punishment• No standing army in peacetime• No taxes without Parliament• Right to bear arms• Freedom of Speech in Parliament• Yes, we have all of these today!