1. Unit 1 Question 1 Wednesday, September 10
Civics/Geography
Unit 1 Question 1
Wednesday, September 10

2. Why do people need government? (Give at least three reasons)
Stinger
Why do people need government? (Give at least three reasons)

3. Unit 1 Question1
How did both Classical Republicans and natural rights philosophers influence the founders’ views about government?
What are the essential differences between classical republicanism and natural right philosophy?
Why did both classical republicans and natural rights philosophers stress the need for education and preparation for citizenship?

4. Draw a Graphic Organizer for answering the question
Fold a piece of paper once vertically and once horizontally to create four boxes
On the front of the paper (the side with the holes on the left), Write “from the power point notes”
Label the two columns “Classical Republicans” and “Natural Rights Philosophers”
Label the two rows “Basic Beliefs” and “Importance of Education”
On the back of the paper (the side with the holes on the right), write “from the station worksheets”
As we go through the powerpoint, arrange your notes on the first side
As you move through the worksheet station and complete the worksheets, arrange any additional information on the back side
Keep this page in your notes, as you will be asked to write an extended response using this information at the end of the unit.

5. Who are the ClassicaL Republicans and the Natural Rights Philosophers?
Greeks and Romans
Socrates by way of Plato
The Crito, the Phaedo, and the Apology
The Republic
Aristotle
The Ethics
The Politics
Natural Rights Philosophers
Post Renaissance and Post Reformation Western Europeans
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Jean Jacques Rousseau

6. What did they think: the Classical Republicans
Purpose of government is to allow citizens to enjoy rights
Rights are protected by your membership in a group (ie there are certain rights for citizens)
Different forms of governments had different benefits
Monarchy (Rule by One)
Beneficial during times of war and crisis
Stable and secure
Oligarchy (Rule by few)
Allows the most qualified to lead in the best interests of the community (polis- city)
Plato suggested a system of “philosopher kings”
Aristotle is root of “Aristocracy,” which is a term for rule by the elite
Democracy
Actually a negative term for Demos (common or low people) kratos (rule)
Seen as negative because the common people do not know how to rule or are prone to making bad decisions that deprive the rights of minorities
Greek system involved all male citizens being called upon to make all decisions (direct democracy)

7. What did they think: the Classical Republicans cont.
The Republic
Means “Thing of the People” (Respublica)
Involves representation of the many by the educated, talented, and qualified (Representative Democracy)
Important factors for representative democracy to work
Small, uniform communities
Based on the city-state, like Athens or Sparta
Small population of like-minded people
People share culture, goals, customs, beliefs, etc.
Civic Virtue
People must be willing to devote their time, treasure, and talents to their communities
Needs of the many outweigh the few (common good)
Service to community is the highest form of work (Politics is the highest science)
Moral Education
Religion or mythology to teach all people the same moral values
Helps achieve uniformity of the community
Ensures that the members of the community share goals.

8. What did they Think: the Natural Rights Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes
People are basically evil
Government exists to protect the lives of citizens (security)
People have a right to life
There is a sacred contract between the people and the government through which people give up all rights and powers in exchange for protection from harm. (covenant)
All powerful monarch necessary to protect life (Leviathan.
John Locke
People are basically good but self interested
People are born with equal rights to life, liberty, and property
The state of nature quickly dissolves into a state of war
People give up some power in exchange for the protections of life, liberty, and property
The agreement between the government and the governed is a social contract
People design their own government to leave power mainly in the hands of the people

9. What did they think: The Natural Rights Philosophers cont.
Rousseau
People are meant to be alone, but society corrupts
Government should rule in the best interests of the people (NOT direct democracy)
General beliefs
Rights are held by individuals because they are human, not because they belong to a certain group
Government exists to protect rights by providing security
There is a social contract between people and the government that cannot be violated
If the social contract is violated, people can change the government

10. So What Founders of American government tried to strike a balance
Influences of classical republicanism
State power to preserve small, uniform communities
Republican form of government (representative democracy)
Focus on an educated and inspired elite to lead
Strong executive with broad foreign relations powers
Influences of natural rights philosophers
Written constitution
Limited government
Strong legislative powers
Frequent elections at many levels
Protection of Individual Rights
Balancing the rights of individuals with the common good