1. Knowledge Connections
Vocabulary 
Checks and Balances
Social Contract
Term
Definition
Knowledge Connections
Picture

2. Essential Question
What ideas about government were introduced by Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau?

3. What is a philosopher?
PHILOSOPHERS are people who want to use logic and reason to solve problems
The Glorious Revolution and the ideas of Locke inspired French thinkers to use reason to change the world for the better

4. Argued that people were naturally good
What were Locke’s ideas?
Argued that people were naturally good
Believed everyone was born with a clean slate and that our thoughts can from our experiences
Thought people were born with NATURAL RIGHTS such as life, liberty and property
JOHN LOCKE

5. Who were the French philosophers?
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU author of The Spirit of the Laws
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU author of The Social Contract

6. What was Montesquieu’s idea?
Montesquieu outlined a structure for government
He recommended three branches
Executive
Judicial
Legislative

7. What is the point of dividing the branches?
His idea created SEPARATION OF POWERS
Duties of each branch:
Legislative – Make laws
Executive – Enforce laws
Judicial – Interpret laws
This allows all three branches to limit and control each other….

8. What is checks and balances?
The branches check on each other, and no branch can gain too much power
SEPARATION OF POWERS creates a system of CHECKS AND BALANCES
Sounds familiar???
Its part of the US government!

9. Society agrees to be governed as a whole
What is a Social Contract?
Rousseau believed that government is based on a SOCIAL CONTRACT
Society agrees to be governed as a whole
People don’t always do what is best for them, but what is best for ALL people

10. What if I still don’t get it?
Before you get on an airplane, you agree to have your belongings searched
EXAMPLE:
You know you aren’t a threat, but you agree to be searched in order to make everyone feel safe
Likewise, everyone else agrees to be searched in order to make you feel safe

11. Essential Question
What ideas about government were introduced by Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau?

12. Ideas About Government
LOCKE
MONTESQUIEU
Ideas About Government
ROUSSEAU