Government Praxis Study - Indiana

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John Locke (1632–1704)

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• Key Ideas: Natural rights (life, liberty, property), social contract, consent of the governed.
  

• Influence: Jefferson drew heavily from Locke in the Declaration of Independence. Locke’s ideas form the philosophical backbone of American liberal democracy.

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Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)

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• Key Ideas: Separation of powers, checks and balances.
  

• Influence: Montesquieu's vision inspired the three-branch structure of government in the U.S. Constitution.

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)

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• Key Ideas: General will, direct democracy, popular sovereignty.

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  Influence: While less directly cited, his emphasis on collective decision-making influenced revolutionary ideals and the idea of government being accountable to the people.

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Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)

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• Key Ideas: Strong central authority to prevent chaos (Leviathan), social contract as necessity.
  

• Influence: Hobbes’ pessimistic view helped shape the Federalist argument for a strong federal government (e.g. Federalist No. 10).

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William Blackstone (1723–1780)

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• Key Ideas: Common law, rights of Englishmen, legal precedent.

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  Influence: His Commentaries on the Laws of England were a key legal reference for American founders and early jurists.

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Cicero (106–43 BC)

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• Key Ideas: Natural law, republican virtue, civic duty.

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  Influence: Classical Roman ideas, filtered through Renaissance and Enlightenment thought, inspired the Founders’ ideal of virtuous self-government.

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Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527)

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• Key Ideas: Realism in politics, necessity of strong leadership for stability.

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  Influence: Indirect but notable in Federalist arguments for a strong executive (esp. Hamilton).

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The Bible & Christian Theology

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• Key Ideas: Moral law, covenant relationships, human dignity.

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  Influence: Puritan and Protestant traditions, especially covenant theology, shaped colonial self-government and the moral vocabulary of the Founders.

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Voltaire (1694–1778)

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• Core Ideas:

  • Freedom of religion, expression, and separation of church and state

  • Critique of authoritarianism and religious intolerance

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  Influence: 1st Amendment freedoms; Enlightenment skepticism toward centralized religious and monarchical power

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David Hume (1711–1776)

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• Core Ideas:

  • Empiricism and skepticism in political reasoning. Critique of absolute power and religious influence in politics. Belief in limited government is grounded in human psychology.

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  Influence: Helped shape Madison’s understanding of faction in Federalist No. 10