Ideas That Shaped US Government

IDEAS THAT SHAPED US GOVERNMENT

Multiple Choice

Which type of government was found in Athens?

• direct democracy

• indirect democracy

The fundamental political principles of our government can be found in the writings of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Montesquieu.

In the Constitution of Virginia, we find the concepts of

• limited government (John Locke and Thomas Hobbes) - this means that even government leaders are required to follow the law

• separation of powers (Montesquieu) - this means that government is structured in branches that have specific jobs

In the US Constitution, we find the concepts of

• limited government (John Locke)

• consent of the governed (John Locke and Thomas Hobbes) - meaning that we agree to abide by the rules created by the people we elect

• separation of powers (Montesquieu)

The Declaration of Independence doesn't actually set up our government; it declares us separate from England. Even so, these concepts are expressed there:

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• limited government (Locke)

• consent of the governed (Locke and Hobbes)

The Declaration of Independence also expresses the concept of natural rights.

Natural rights are believed to be so basic to human beings, they can only be taken away in the most serious circumstances. The Declaration expresses them in the words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Two philosophers expressed these ideas.

• Rousseau, a European philosopher, who believed that all men are equal. Of course, in modern terms, that applies to all people.

• John Locke also wrote of the idea of the social contract. He believed that people have an agreement (contract) with their government to obey the laws in exchange for the government treating them fairly.

Multiple Select

Which concepts have we learned about so far? (3 correct answers)

• natural rights

• consent of the governed

• federalism

• separation of powers

• civil rights

When we look at the founding of the first colony on Virginia soil, we see concepts that will also become part of the early US government.

Unlike the first colonists in New England, the first British colonists in Virginia came for business reasons. The Virginia Company of London received permission to establish a colony for the purposes of finding natural resources and sending them back to England to be made into goods to sell.

Open Ended

Where was that first Virginia colony established?

Open Ended

And what types of natural resources do you think were found there?

The people who agreed to work for the Virginia Company were still Englishmen. Their rights at Jamestown were the same as they had enjoyed in England. Examples include:

• land ownership

• representation in government

• a council to make laws to govern the colony

The Jamestown colony didn't do very well at first, but when the Va Company agreed to allow the colonists to farm a little land for themselves, life improved. Shortly after that, they agreed to let the colonists completely govern themselves as long as they were producing for the Company.