1. Road to the Declaration of Independence John Locke, Purpose of Government

2. Goals for today To understand the purpose of government. To understand how the founding fathers used the ideals and philosophies of John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu when writing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

3. Background Info Before American Independence… – All of the colonists in the 13 colonies, Canada and parts of the Caribbean were British citizens – They were not represented in the British Parliament But they still had to pay taxes like regular British citizens…

4. Political Philosophy 1500 & 1600s The best government was a monarchy – Divine Right of Kings (King Louis XIV) – Government works with the church (William Laud) – Kings can be guided by officials (Thomas Hobbes)

5. John Locke & Baron de Montesquieu Major political philosophers in the 1600s Big Ideas: – Social Contract – Separation of Powers

6. Locke’s Second Treatise on Government People are a blank slate and can do good or evil Before there was government people lived in a “state of nature” (they ran around in clans/tribes) Government was a “Social Contract” between the king and the people – There was no “Divine King” who was above the law – Sovereignty (or power) is with the people, not the state Under this contract, “the state” has sovereignty, but only if it was bound by ‘natural law’ – Natural law = inborn rights (Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness/property) – If a government doesn’t uphold it’s side of the contract, then people have an obligation to revolt

7. Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws The best form of government is one that is elected by the people Government power should be balanced between three branches – King (who enforces the laws) – Parliament (who makes the laws) – Courts (who interprets the laws) This balance is called the separation of powers Each branch of government should have power over the other two branches – This is called checks and balances

8. Think about it… Make a connection with what you just heard. – Name an event that follows Locke’s ideas of revolution. – Explain & discuss this event to your table partner. – Discuss what these events have to do with you or with America? – Discuss how Montesquieu’s ideas have affected our form of government?