1. People who helped shape our constitution

2. Our Founding Fathers
Our Founding Fathers took many of the ideas of past philosophers into account while creating our Constitution
Many of the ideas were not necessarily taken directly from past philosophers, but their ideas did help shape our constitution

3. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Wrote a book titled, Leviathan
Human beings are born in a “state of nature”, but with constant conflict
No laws preventing killing or harming one another
Peace can only be obtained by forming a social contract
Formed by fear
Head of the “government” can punish those who break the contract
Men are born evil

4. RevieW What is a government formed and founded by fear like?
Do we have that kind of government?
Do we think that people are born evil?

5. John locke ( )
Believes in a, “state of nature”, but men are not always evil
Government exists to protect the rights of men
When government breaks the, “social contract” people can form another one
God gave man ability to reason, governments exist for moral order

6. review What is the difference between Hobbes and Locke?
What is a social contract?

7. Montesquieu (1689-1755) The Spirit of the Laws
One power in government is bad
Believes in separating powers to ensure one person does not get all the power
Believes in the idea of democracy
People have power in their laws and government
Warns against too much or too little power
Everything (living) has laws

8. Review What does it mean “people have power?”
What is “separation of powers?”

9. Rousseau (1712-1778) Social Contract (book)
“Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains”.
The only way to keep government in check is through a written work (Constitution)
All citizens of the government must agree to this social contract
Helped spread revolution in France

10. Review
What does Rousseau’s quote mean?
What is a constitution?

11. Voltaire (1694-1778) Believed in a separation between church and state
Attacked the Catholic church
Believed in freedom of Religion and speech

12. review What does “separation of church and state” mean?
What is freedom of religion and speech?

13. English bill of rights (1689)
Limited the powers of the monarch (king)
Gives Parliament certain rights and abilities (Congress)
Gave citizens rights
Prohibited cruel and unusual punishment
King James II
Trial by Jury
The crown had to seek, “consent” from the people

14. Review
What is cruel and unusual punishment?
What does “consent” mean?

15. Mayflower Compact Written on November 11th, 1620
Signed by 41 English colonists on the ship Mayflower
It was the first written framework of government established in what is now the U.S.
It was designed to prevent and stop disagreements and conflict amongst the Puritans

16. Review
What kind of conflict could this prevent?
What is a framework?