0001 Principles of American Democracy (SMR 4.1)
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What was happening prior to the building of the government in America that greatly influenced how America set up their government?
Protestant Reformation in Europe where the Catholic Church was being put into question as the divine authority and protestantism was starting to dominate, leading to the Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment
What leaders & ideas from the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment influenced American democracy? (6)
• Francis Bacon, empiricism • Descartes, “I think therefore I am” • Voltaire, no religion in govt • Rousseau, social contract theory • John Locke; govts right to protect natural laws • Montesquieu: three separate branches of govt
How did Francis Bacon impact early ideas of govt?
Empiricism, “knowledge via sense experience”, natural laws are not dependent on divine laws
How did Descartes ideas impact early ideas of govt?
Cognito ergo sum, “I think therefore I am”, built on Greek philosophers concepts that the unexamined life is not worth living, don’t just blindly follow
How did Voltaire’s ideas impact early ideas of govt?
vocal opponent of religion’s involvement in politics, freedom of religion
How did the ideas of Jean Jacques Rousseau impact early ideas of govt?
Governments get their right to rule through the will of the people (“Social Contract”), the people make up the common good, not the ruler
How did the ideas of John Locke impact early ideas of govt?
Liberalism, people have the right to dispose the govt which does not protect their rights and property, natural law, natural rights of life, liberty and property, “Father of Liberalism”, influences other enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin/ Thomas Jefferson
How did the political ideas of Baron de Montesquieu impact early ideas of govt?
three separate branches of the govt to check each other’s powers
Enlightenment and Reformation inspired a govt that emphasized what?
The rights of the individual
What was going on during the Reformation and how did this impact our early govt?
Catholic Church was acting as an oppressor by forcing everyone to conform to their reading of the religion As a reaction, early American believed people should have the right to decide and interpret for themselves
Enlightenment insisted on the freedom of _______, separate from ____, leading to _________.
action for man, divine will, freedom of religions and practice
Enlightenment insisted that individuals should be allowed to act for themselves. How did this idea impact the govt?
Governments should not restrict the rights of a person to seek and pursue freedom, liberty and happiness Clear laws should be set to protect the individuals from arbitrary rules and restriction
What trial was the first instance of freedom of expression & press
The Trial of John Peter Zenger: wrote in newspapers about corruption of governor of New York, Governor brough charges of libel against him, accused of writing up things to cause riots, the ruling of the court was that he was writing truth and stating fact,
The rights to an acceptable standard of living was a reaction against what part of European history?
a reflection of the history of feudalism in Europe where the lord had power over what and where the serfs did, they were bound to the land, opposite of the American freedom to seek their own standars
What freedoms are associated with the right to an acceptable standard of living? (3)
• Freedom of human activity to seek such standards • Freedom to hold private property • Freedom to participate in private enterprises and gain profit
How did Benjamin Franklin exhibit the idea of freedom of human activity to seek standards of living?
Benjamin Franklin; moving out of his brother’s shop where he felt bound and creating his own shop where he was a printer
The idea behind the rights of individual in economy was inspired by what?
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations
What three ideas were presented in Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations?
• An individual, by pursuing his own interest, promotes the interests of the society • Free-market competition • Against excessive wealth build up by “businessmen” and warned against the formation of monopolies
Why did Adam Smith believe that an individual by pursuing his own interest also promotes the interest of society in “Wealth of Nations”?
By providing jobs and creating products that benefit everyone
Why did Adam Smith believe that Free Market competition benefited society in “Wealth of Nations”?
Free Market competition causes healthy competition, better products, and lower prices
Why was Adam Smith against excessive wealth and monopolies in “Wealth of Nations”?
businessmen should be putting profits back into society, monopolies would deviate from the idea of competition and making the best product possible
The Governments responsibility in American law and govt was in part based on what idea?
Social Contract theory by Rousseau that the govt rules through the consensus of the people
The American govt was based on _______ and _________ principles.
Liberal & Republican
What liberal and republican principles are included in American democracy? (3)
• Government rules through the consensus of the people • Govt’s principle responsibility is to protect and promote the rights & freedoms of the people • Govt has no right to limit freedom in order to preserve itself