Unit 1: Foundations of

American Democracy
 Steps toward Independence
▪ French & Indian causes depression in the Colonies
– To offset costs, British gov’t starts taxing colonial imports (Sugar Act, Stamp Act)
▪ Outrage is created throughout the Colonies –
– “No taxation without Representation”
▪ 1765-Stamp Act Congress, led by Samuel Adams, is first official meeting
of colonists and first step toward independence
– Colonists believed that Parliament had NO power/authority over them w/o
representation of the colonies
– Parliament (and the King) ignored their complaints
▪ Outrage leads to bloodshed at Boston Massacre (5 colonists killed by
British troops)
– Leads to Intolerable Acts – blockade of Boston Harbor – in retaliation
 Continental Congresses
First Continental Congress – 56 delegates – still loyal to the King at
this point
Draft Declaration of Rights and Resolves to send to King George III
King George refuses
Second Continental Congress – fighting breaks out before they can
meet – first try to send Olive Branch Petition to the King (again….he
ignores them)
Virginia becomes the first to call for independence - spurred on by Thomas
Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense
All delegates knew the consequences of moving toward independence if they
were unsuccessful
 Declaration of Independence
Sets out the reasons for the Colonies separating from Great Britain – Jefferson
drew heavily on past political philosophers – John Locke, Thomas Hobbes,
Barron de Montesquieu
Declaration of Independence has 2 parts
1. Philosophy of Universal Truths & Inalienable Rights
 “When in the c0urse of human events , it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands
which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and
equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
 “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
2. Grievances with the King – the laundry list of complaints the colonists had against King
George III
 Thomas Hobbes
Background: (1588-1679)

Born during the English

Civil War--a time of great
social and political
uncertainty
Fled to Paris as a youth
Book: The Leviathan
 Thomas Hobbes
Views on Society:
 Considered all humans to be naturally wicked and evil

Competing for survival and resources

Based on greed and self-interest
Can not be trusted
Might makes right
 Believed that humans are in a constant state of war due to selfishness and scarcity
 Social stability only occurs through a social contract-an agreement to stop killing each
other
 Thomas Hobbes
Views on Government:
 Because humans can’t be trusted, believed that the best government is an
absolute monarchy
 Absolute Monarchy=Leviathan
A Gross, ugly sea monster with the power to devour everything
Metaphor for government and the absolute authority it should wield to
protect life
Based on Biblical Jonah
 The Masses agree to give up freedom for peace and security (social contract)
 John Locke
Background: (1632-1704)
Born after the English Civil
peacefully concluded
Believed in religious freedom,
especially Protestantism
Fled to Holland because of
revolutionary ideas
Returned to England and forced
the king to accept the English Bill
of Rights
Book: Two Treatises on Government
 John Locke
Views on Society:
All humans are naturally capable of rational thought
All humans use reason to settle differences and compromise
The “State of Nature” is one of total liberty and freedom
Natural reason results in natural equality between all humans
Humans all depend on property to satisfy their survival needs
 John Locke
Views on Government:
Humans are naturally rational
Humans use reason to govern themselves independently
Rejected Divine Right, focused on the individual
Important to protect “life, Liberty, and Property”
Limit power of the government by a separation of power to check and
balance
People enter into a “Social Contract” to allow peaceful government, but
always have the right to rebel if life, liberty, and property are threatened
Baron de Montesquieu
(1689-1755)
Background:
Denied wealth as a child,
inherited power and title from a
rich uncle
Used position at French
Academy of Sciences to study
and criticize governments
Book: The Persian Letters
 Baron de Montesquieu

Views on Society:
Considered the French government to be too lavish
Believed that religion corrupted governments, especially
Christianity
Considered women to be weak, but valuable participants in
political process
Approved of slavery and the natural inequality of the races
Baron de
Montesquieu Views on Government:
Believed in secular, but ethical,
governments
Considered limited monarchy to be
the most stable government
Separation of powers essential to
stop abuse and corruption=Checks
and Balances
Participation based on educated
Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780)
Background
 Jurist, judge, and Politian
 Wrote Commentaries on the Laws of
England
 Laws should be followed indiscriminately by all
 Laws are passed by the superior (govt) and
followed by inferiors (people)
 Supreme being (God) is the source of all law
and all laws of nature must be followed by all
 Any person who applies laws that would
violate the “laws of nature” is unjust and such
laws do not have to be followed.
 Mini-Recap of Political Philosophers
 Hobbes (6+)- Considered all humans to be naturally wicked and evil
 Competing for survival and resources **Based on greed and self-interest
 Can not be trusted **Might makes right **Social Contract to stop killing each other
Locke (13+) - Humans are naturally rational, Humans use reason to govern themselves independently
 Rejected Divine Right, focused on the individual, Important to protect “life, Liberty, and Property”
 Limit power of the government by a separation of power to check and balance **Slavery is bad
 Social Contract” to allow peaceful government
 Montesquieu (9+)- Believed that religion corrupted governments, especially Christianity, Considered
women to be weak, Approved of slavery & the natural inequality of the races
 Believed in secular, but ethical, governments ****Participation based on educated
 Separation of powers essential to stop abuse and corruption=Checks and Balances
 Blackstone – God creates all “laws of Nature” and no one is above those laws
 Laws are created by the superior and followed by the inferior
 Any person who violates God’s “Laws of Nature” is unjust and such laws do not have to be followed