1. Men Who Were Not Americans, but Helped Determine What America Could Be
The Philosophy of the Founders
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire
Men Who Were Not Americans, but Helped Determine What America Could Be

2. 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…..
- Thomas Jefferson

3. 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…..

4. “We’d Like to Change the World, but We Don’t Know What to Do…..”
But, how???
Let’s change
the way things are!!

5. “….So We Leave it Up to You.”
Thomas Hobbes
“….So We Leave it Up to You.”
John Locke
Voltaire
Baron de Montesquieu
Jean Jacques Rousseau

6. Thomas Hobbes Hobbes was born in England in 1588
His family was extremely poor
He worked hard to get into Oxford University
Then became a tutor to a rich family
He traveled throughout Europe

7. What would life be like if there were no government?
What is the nature of all people?
Good?
Evil?
Caring?
Selfish?

8. Hobbes
* People, by nature, possess the equality of ability
* People, by nature, are cruel, greedy & selfish
“From the equality of ability arises the equality of hope in the attaining of our ends…if any two men desire the same thing…they become enemies”

9. “…life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short…” Hobbes
* Without government people
lived in a state of nature.
* Without written, enforceable rules,
people would live like animals –
foraging for food,
fighting, stealing &
killing, when necessary
“…life would be
solitary, poor,
nasty, brutish,
and short…”

10. Hobbes 3 causes of war Competition –conflict for gain
Diffidence/distrust – conflict for safety
Glory – conflict for reputation
Without a common power,
people live in a condition of war

11. Hobbes By entering a SOCIAL CONTRACT,
people agreed to give up the state of nature
for an organized society

12. Hobbes Hobbes’ solution? Absolute monarchy
Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society
Hobbes

13. Furthers ideas about the
John Locke
Furthers ideas about the
law of nature, social contract and natural rights
“The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it which obliges every one….No one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty and possessions….”

14. John Locke Born into a wealthy British family in 1602 Studied medicine
Became a medical aid to a British politician
Traveled throughout France
Wrote many influential essays read by convention attendees

15. Locke * People, by nature are reasonable and moral
therefore they
understand the law of nature through the use of their reason and follow it because of their conscience
The law of nature provides for certain natural rights….
Life – freedom from threats to our security
Liberty – freedom from other’s domination
Property – freedom to work and gain economic goods
(land, houses, tools, money -- necessary for survival)

16. What are rights? Locke natural rights Life Liberty Property
Human rights
Rights that
all people are born with
cannot be taken away
Civil rights
Political rights
Student’s rights
Rights – a claim to have or obtain something, or to act in a way
that is justified on legal or moral grounds

17. Locke * People, by nature are reasonable and moral
* People, by nature are also self-interested
Therefore, in the state of nature the possibility existed for stronger people (physically & intellectually) to take away of infringe upon the natural rights of the weak.
To prevent this from happening…

18. Locke * People enter into social contracts
and form governments to protect their rights
What is the purpose of government?
How do people running the government get the right to govern?
How should a government be organized?

19. The “Doctrine of Anticipation”
Locke
3 Essential Ideas About Government
* Legitimate government cannot exist
without the consent of the governed
(it must be accepted by all citizens –
and therefore has an obligation to them.)
The best kind of government has limited power
The “Doctrine of Anticipation”
If a government fails, or the people anticipate it will soon fail,
its obligations or violates people’s natural rights,
the people have the right to overthrow that government

20. Baron de Montesquieu Born Charles de Secondat in 1689
At age 27, he became a French lord
Traveled throughout Europe
He wrote many commentaries on society
Slowly became blind

21. Montesquieu Studied various types of government throughout Europe
Advocated for a different system of government
Divide powers of government among 3 branches the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial branch
Each branch should be able check the powers of the other two.

22. Jean Jacques Rousseau state of nature & social contract
“Man is born free, and
everywhere he is in chains”

23. “Man’s first law is to watch over his own preservation”
Rousseau
* People are good by nature
“Man’s first law is to watch over his own preservation”
* People’s natural innocence is corrupted by the evils of society

24. Rousseau * Society places too many constraints on people
Some controls are necessary but they should be minimal
Controls over people should only be imposed by governments that have been freely elected
* The good of the community should be placed above individual interests

25. * Freedom of thought and speech
Voltaire
* Freedom of thought and speech
“My trade
is to say
what I think”

26. “ I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death
Voltaire
“ I do not agree with a word you say,
but I will defend to the death
your right to say it.”

27. Natural Rights Philosophy
Stresses the importance of the individual’s natural rights
Human behavior is motivated by self-interest
The main purpose of government should be to protect natural rights

28. To protect people’s natural rights
What is the purpose of government?
To protect people’s natural rights
How do people running the government get the right to govern?
The consent of the people
How should a government be organized?
* Limit power by separating power
* 3 branches of government

29. 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…..

30. Consent implicit explicit
Accepting the laws and services provided of the government & nation of our birth
Agreeing to a social contract
Joining a society that is already established

31. What are the essential characteristics of higher law?
Limited Government
Defined by
A constitution = a fundamental or higher law
that must be obeyed by everyone,
including those in power
What are the essential characteristics of higher law?

32. A constitution or higher law-
Sets forth the basic rights of citizens to life, liberty & property
Establishes the responsibility of the government to protect those rights
Limits how those in government may use their power
Establishes the principal of private domain
Can only be changed with widespread consent
How ?

33. 1. Limits the power of government
How does a constitution protect natural rights?
1. Limits the power of government
2. Organizes government and distributes power
* separation of powers
* checks and balances

36. What type of government should we create?
                                                                                          
                                                                                               
                                                                                         
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
Ben Frankin
What type of government should we create?
John Jay
John Adams
George Washington
George Mason

37. Models of Government
Democracy
Republic
“Classical Republicanism”

38. What is classical republicanism?
The best society is one that promotes the common good instead of the interest of only one class of citizens
What are some characteristics of classical republicanism?
Civic virtue
Moral education
Small, uniform communities
stresses the common good above the rights of the individual

39. Hmm…how can we combine the ideas of classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy?

40. Why not simply create a representative democracy?
Aha!
Why not simply create a representative democracy?
Laws will made and administered by elected representatives, thus we have republican principles…
…and these representatives will be elected by a large number of people. Hence the government will derive its authority in a democratic manner, from the consent of the people as a whole.

41. What role does civic virtue play in a representative democracy?
People are motivated self-interest
Economic self-interest
The common good could be served by each individual pursuing his/her own economic self-interest
Thus, contributing to the general prosperity

42. What role does civic virtue play in a representative democracy?
It is important for citizens to possess civic virtue and work toward the common good
This cannot be relied upon
The government must be structured to provide a limited government with a system of checks and balances while promoting separation of powers