Enlightenment Philosophers and Ideas

State of nature was a peaceful place where everyone is equal and people could do what they wanted as long as they didn’t bother others’ “life, health, liberty, or possessions.”

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Natural rights are not given by any leader, so they can’t be taken away or denied by a leader or the government. In other words, natural rights are rights that are unalienable.

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesqueiu

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

When the people themselves are the source of all political power.

• Social contract

• Popular sovereignty

• Natural rights

• Rule of law

a kind of government where the leader holds total power

• direct democracy

• despotism

• democratic republic

• aristocratic republic

Government is bound to follow the laws

just like everyone else.

• popular sovereignty

• rule of law

• checks and balances

• natural rights

Our legislative, executive, and judicial branches are an example of:

• Rule of law

• Separation of Powers

• Social contract

• Natural rights

People are the source of government power. Citizens give authority to the government in exchange for protection of rights.

• Democracy
• Consent of the governed
• Rule of law
• Representative government

Which principle is demonstrated in the first 3 words of the U.S. Constitution, "We the People"?

• Limited government
• Consent of the governed
• Democracy
• Representative government

It is the people’s right and even their responsibility to

overthrow bad leaders and start over by building a better government.

• Baron de Montesquieu

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

• Machiavelli

Ensures that no branch has enough power to abuse

the rights of the people

• Rule of law

• Social contract

• Natural rights

• Separation of powers