Political Philosophy: Locke and Rousseau

Deism is a belief system that emphasizes reason and natural law over revelation and religious dogma.

John Locke was a British philosopher who argued for the separation of powers in government, advocating for a system where different branches of government have distinct functions to prevent tyranny.

In Locke's view, the state of nature is a hypothetical condition where individuals are free and equal, but lacking a government to enforce rules and protect their rights.

Locke believed that in a just government, power should be divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This prevents any single person or group from having absolute power.

Rousseau's concept of the "noble savage" argues that people in their natural state are inherently good and free, but become corrupted by civilization and societal rules.

Rousseau's theory of "national sovereignty" emphasizes a system where the people are the ultimate source of political power, and the government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

The American Revolution was a period of significant unrest and conflict as American colonists challenged British rule and fought for independence.

The American Revolution led to the formation of the United States of America, a new nation based on the principles of self-government and individual liberty.

The idea that colonists should not have to pay taxes to a government in which they have no representation or voice.

A series of acts passed by the British Parliament that aimed to raise revenue from the American colonies, leading to growing tensions and eventually the American Revolution.

An act passed by the British Parliament in 1765 that required colonists to pay taxes on printed materials like newspapers, playing cards, and legal documents.

An act passed by the British Parliament in 1767 that imposed taxes on goods imported to the colonies, such as tea, glass, and paper.

An act passed by the British Parliament in 1773 that granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies.

A protest by American colonists in Boston in 1773 where they threw 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company, into the harbor.

A violent confrontation that occurred in Boston in 1770, where British soldiers fired on a crowd of American colonists, killing five.

A phrase that captures the colonists' anger and defiance towards British rule, highlighting the injustice of being taxed without any say in government affairs.

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia in 1774, convened in response to the Intolerable Acts imposed by the British Parliament. It aimed to address colonial grievances and unite the colonies against British rule, representing all colonies except Georgia.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, was the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War. It started when British troops attempted to seize colonial military supplies in Concord, Massachusetts. The colonists, alerted by Paul Revere's ride, organized a fierce resistance, ultimately repelling the British forces. This event marked the beginning of the war for independence.

Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride is a famous event that occurred on April 18, 1775. Revere, a patriot, rode from Boston to Lexington and Concord, warning colonists that the British were approaching to seize colonial military supplies. His ride helped mobilize the colonists and gave them time to defend their arms.

Minutemen were American colonial militiamen who were prepared to fight for their freedom at a moment's notice. They were called 'minutemen' because they could assemble and be ready for battle within a minute's warning. They played a crucial role in the early battles of the American Revolution.

The Articles of Confederation was the first government established by the newly independent United States of America in 1781. It created a weak national government with limited powers, leaving most authority to the individual states. The Articles were replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789 because they proved ineffective in unifying the nation and addressing its challenges.

The Second Continental Congress was a gathering of colonial delegates in Philadelphia in 1775. It met shortly after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and eventually in 1776 declared independence from Britain. This congress became the governing body of the thirteen colonies in the early years of the revolution.

The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774. They aimed to punish the colonists in Massachusetts for their resistance to British rule, including actions like the Boston Tea Party. These acts included the closure of the port of Boston and limitations on colonial self-government. The Intolerable Acts further fueled colonial anger and resistance, contributing to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

The Committees of Correspondence were networks of communication established in the American colonies during the 1760s and 1770s. These committees helped spread information about British policies and colonial grievances, and facilitated communication and coordination among the colonies. They played a critical role in mobilizing colonial resistance against British rule.

The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declared enslaved people in Confederate states free, but did not immediately abolish slavery. The 13th Amendment (1865) formally abolished slavery across the United States.

The Reconstruction era (1865–1877) focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society. Despite the end of slavery, segregation and discriminatory laws (e.g., Jim Crow laws) persisted.

The Union's victory in the Civil War strengthened the federal government's power over individual states, reshaping American politics.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to former slaves and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment gave all male former slaves the right to vote.

Jim Crow laws enforced segregation in public spaces, transportation, schools, housing, jobs, and even marriage. These laws promoted racial discrimination and inequality.

A significant battle of the American Revolution, where General George Washington's American troops successfully surprised and defeated a group of Hessian mercenaries, boosting American morale.

An English-born political philosopher who argued for American independence from Britain. He later defended the French Revolution and proposed a guaranteed minimum income for all.

A document declaring the 13 American colonies independent from Great Britain. It was signed on July 4th, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War.

The day the United States officially declared its independence from Great Britain. Celebrated annually on July 4th.

A group of German mercenaries hired by the British to fight in the American Revolution.

The army led by General George Washington, fighting for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution.

The British army led by General William Howe, fighting to maintain control over the American colonies.

A document that officially ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the independence of the United States of America.

During the 1780s, a rebellion broke out in Massachusetts due to high taxes, highlighting the discontent among farmers and citizens.

The 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and formed the United States of America.

The idea that the United States is exceptional and different from other nations, possessing a unique mission to promote freedom and democracy.

A system of government where power is divided between a national government and individual states, allowing for shared authority and greater autonomy.

The process where the United States shifted from a loose confederation of states under the Articles of Confederation to a stronger federal system with the ratification of the Constitution in 1787.

A concept in which individuals earn success based on their abilities and efforts, rather than birth, social class or privilege.

Trade between three regions or ports, often involving the exchange of goods between different continents.

The system of forced labor that involved the transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas, primarily for agricultural work, leading to a brutal exploitation of human beings.