John Locke and Montesquieu

Enlightenment Influences

John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu 

John Locke 

• Gave us the idea of Natural Rights which are:

• Life

• Liberty

• Property 

• Governments must protect these natural rights (Natural Laws)

Multiple Select

According to John Locke, what are the natural rights of people?

• Life

• Religion

• Liberty

• Speech

• Property

Social Contract 

• An agreement between the people and the government that is over them.

• The people give the government power and the government is to protect the rights of the people. 

• People will vote for leaders they feel uphold the social contract. 

Multiple Choice

Which scenario below would be an example of the social contract being upheld?

• A local government official uses tax money to buy a car for himself

• A state judge accepts a bribe to favor the outcome of a trial

• Federal lawmakers create a law that limits free speech

• Supreme court justice bans law that limits rights at schools

Montesquieu 

• Came up with the idea of Separation of Powers

• Dividing the power in government would prevent the government from abusing the power

• Would help to protect the rights of the people 

Multiple Select

What are the 3 branches of government that our founding fathers created?

• Legislative

• Electoral

• Judicial

• Executive

• Federal

Checks and Balances 

• Montesquieu had another idea known as checks and balances.

• This is when one branch can stop another branch from having too much power.

• Separation of powers just says each branch has different powers

• Checks and balances describes how these powers can be used to keep the power balanced

Multiple Choice

Which answer choice describes separation of powers?

• The president has the power to veto (deny) laws.

• The president vetoes a law that takes away citizen rights.

Multiple Choice

"The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom." - Who said this quote and which idea does it explain?

• Montesquieu - separation of powers

• Montesquieu - Checks and balances

• John Locke - Natural rights / natural law

• John Locke - State of nature

Multiple Choice

Analyze the cartoon. Which enlightenment idea is being violated in the cartoon?

• Social contract

• Natural law

• State of nature

• Separation of powers

Open Ended

Explain how the cartoon from the last question ties into the idea of separation of powers. Which branch of government seems to have the most authority? Why?

Multiple Choice

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Which philosopher and idea relates to this quote?

• John Locke - natural rights

• Montesquieu - separation of powers

Open Ended

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” - This quote is in the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. How was Jefferson influenced by John Locke?