NC: Social Contract

The idea that society is an agreement between citizens and government.

• Social Contract

• Government

• Rights

• Duties

Based on John Locke's ideas regarding a Social Contract, would he agree that the American colonies were justified in leaving Britain? Why?

• Yes because they were forced to obey laws that they did not consent to.

• Yes because they forced to work on plantations without pay.

• No because Britain did not violate any of their rights and only treated them with respect.

• No because the King of England and George Washington were good friends and so everyone was treated the same.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Does Mr. Jefferson agree or disagree with Mr. Locke's ideas on a social contract? How do you know?

• Jefferson agrees with Locke because they both talk about people having rights and giving consent to be ruled.

• Jefferson disagrees because he does not think that governments are necessary.

Many political philosophers met and discussed their ideas on government during the 1600's and 1700's. The was also known as the _______________ Period.

• Enlightenment

• Lighted

• Victorian

• Revolutionary

He believed that people created government and chose to be governed, by contract, between the ruler and the ruled.

• Locke

• Hobbes

• Rousseau

• Montesquieu

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.

• Capitalism

• Democracy

• Social Contract

• Business Agreement

This English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

(a)  

What does "sovereignty" mean?

• The ability to make laws.

• Supreme power or authority.

• The right to vote.

• The power to tax.

Who had sovereignty in the United States according to the Constitution?

• The President.

• The Congress.

• The people.

• The states.

TRUE Or FALSE: According to John Locke, the people have the right to revolt if the government doesn't follow the rules of the social contract.

• True

• False