AP Govt Philosophers

This aristocratic philosopher proposed that separation of powers would keep any individual or group from gaining total control of a government. 

• Voltaire
• Montesquieu
• Rousseau
• Hobbes

This political thinker felt that people are reasonable beings. He supported self-government and argued that the purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of people. If government fails to protect these natural rights, he said, citizens have the right to overthrow it. 

• Locke
• Hobbes
• Voltaire
• Montesquieu

The political thinker believed that all humans are naturally selfish and wicked. He argued, therefore, that strong governments are necessary to control human behavior. To avoid chaos, he said, people enter into a social contract. They give up their rights in exchange for law and order. 

• Locke
• Hobbes
• Wollstonecraft
• Beccaria

A government kept under control by law and by checks and balances and the separation of powers.

• Limited Government

• Bandwagon Effect

• Political Socialization

• Approval Ratings

If Baron de Montesquieu were to visit the United States today, he might be most pleased to see the

• our Declaration of Independents
• our Bill of Rights
• a government-run tax system
• the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of our government

According to Hobbes, people agreed to give up some __________________ in exchange for __________________ as part of the social contract.

• rights and power / protection
• food and shelter / weapons
• security and protection / freedom
• money / goods and services

Which individual suggested the idea that if a government fails to protect its people's natural rights of life, liberty, and property, the people have the right to overthrow it?

• Karl Marx
• John Locke
• Thomas Hobbes
• Niccolo Machiavelli

Baron de Montesquieu believed that a separation of powers would -- 

• prevent tyranny by acting as a check on power. 
• restore authority to the Roman Catholic Church.
• increase corruption by political authority. 
• decrease the power of the middle class. 

In exploring the relationship between governments and people, Thomas Hobbes argued that governments resulted from a social contract to maintain an orderly society.  John Locke, another philosopher of the Enlightenment, inspired American revolutionaries by arguing that a new social contract could be instituted under what circumstance?

• if a government failed to compel obedience.
• if a government entered into alliances with foreign governments.
• if a government violated people's natural rights.
• if a government failed to protect people from economic inequality.

In Locke's book ______________________ he argued that all men have the right to overthrow the Government if it violates their ________________

• Leviathan/ Natural Rights

• 2nd Treatise of Government/ Natural Rights

• Leviathan/ Social Contract

• 2nd Treatise of Government/ Social Contract