2.  People who had ideas that influenced our founding fathers while developing our government.

3.  During the 1600’s

4.  A time of scientific discovery

5.  People began to apply scientific theories and reason to laws and society

6. Social Contract Theory Believed there should be a social contract between the government and its people People give up some freedoms to the government in return for protection

7.  Natural Rights  Believed that people are born with the right to life, freedom, and own property.  Also believe in social contract, but believed if the government did not protect the people, the contract was broken and the people could chose a new leader

8.  Separation of power  Believed that the government should be split into branches.  No branch should have more power than the others.

9.  Believed that people have the right to speak freely, and this right should be defended by everyone.  Also believed in freedom of religion and freedom of trade.

10.  Believed that the legislative branch belongs to the people.  Believed that people have the right to decide how they are governed.

11.  Jamestown (the first permanent English settlement in the “new world” was allowed to create an assembly to create laws for themselves.  Marked the beginning of self-government and representative democracy in colonial America.

12.  First written Constitution in America.  Said the colonist in Conn. Could elect an assembly of representatives from each town to pass laws.  Colonists could elect their own governor and judges.