1. What are some possible reasons why people form into governments in the first place?
What are some downsides of forming into a government?

2. Social contract What does government provide for us?
What would it look like without government?
What do people have to agree to do in a society with government?

3. Enlightenment
How did we go from this…
To this…?

4. Enlightenment
In the 1700’s a movement developed in Europe called the Enlightenment. The main idea of the Enlightenment was the importance of learning and reasoning. Enlightenment thinkers believed education would solve society’s problems.
These thinkers focused on the relationship between government and the people being governed.
Their ideas included separation of powers, natural law, and the social contract.

5. Enlightenment: a period in European history when education and reasoning were considered the key to understanding and solving society’s problems.
Social contract: an implied agreement between the people and their government that defines their rights, duties, and limitations.
Natural rights: the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments.
Separation of powers: the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities.
Checks and Balances: Each branch of government is able to limit the power of the other branches.

6. Enlightenment Locke Montesquieu Natural Rights Separation of Powers/
Checks and Balances
Natural Rights

7. Enlightenment Locke Montesquieu Natural rights Separation of Powers
(life, liberty, property)
Found in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights
Separation of Powers
(three branches of government in our Constitution)
Checks and Balances (found in our Constitution)