Name Country Published Work and Date Main Ideas Influence on U.S.

John Locke  Natural Rights  Natural Rights are those rights which we have as human beings. We have rights to Life, Liberty, and Property. All people have Natural Rights equally. Social Contract  The State of Nature is unsatisfactory, so they agree to transfer some of their rights to a central government, while retaining others (Social Contract).  Governments are instituted by the Consent of the Governed. The purpose is to preserve the Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, and Property of the citizens, and to pursue the public good even where this may conflict with the rights of individuals.  The best government was one with limited powers that was accepted by all citizens. If the government fails to protect their Natural Rights, the people also have the right, or duty, to overthrow that government.

We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Thomas Jefferson

Voltaire

“I may disagree with what you have said but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire (Taken from Treatise on Tolerance – 1763) “… I will go even further and say that we ought to look upon all men as our brothers. What! Call a Turk, a Jew, and a Siamese, my brother? Yes of course; for are we not all children of the same father, and the creatures of the same God?” Voltaire (Taken from Treatise on Tolerance – 1763) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. US Bill of Rights (James Madison?)

We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Declaration of Independence

A.K.A.: The separation of powers among the 3 branches of government—executive, judicial, and legislative. The provide checks & balances on each others’ powers.

1)Supply & Demand will dictate what is produced, when it's produced, how it's produced, and at what cost 2)Competition will dictate the quality of what is produced, and control pricing, in order to increase sales