● “The Enlightenment of 17th-century Europe had the most immediate impact on the
framers of the United States Constitution.”
● John Locke, a 17th century Englishman who redefined the nature of government.
● He was much more optimistic about their ability to use reason to avoid tyranny.
● “According to Locke, a ruler gains authority through the consent of the governed. The
duty of that government is to protect the natural rights of the people, which Locke
believed to include life, liberty, and property.”
● This idea deeply influenced Thomas Jefferson as he drafted the Declaration of
Independence.
● Get into random ramble about British history and politics: Magna Carta, kings,
government, Parliament, Prime Ministers, etc…
● Petition of Right and English Bill of Rights…Democracy!!!!!!
● “The American founders were well versed in the writings of the philosophes, whose ideas
influenced the shaping of the new country.”
● Religious Issue too???
● “The Founders were concerned with restricting Federal power to eliminate the possibility
of tyranny; an example of this is the reservation to Congress of the power of declaring
war.”
● “To the Founders, rendering the military subservient to the civil power (the legislature)
was seen as a safeguard against a potentially tyrannical executive.”
framers of the United States Constitution.”
● John Locke, a 17th century Englishman who redefined the nature of government.
● He was much more optimistic about their ability to use reason to avoid tyranny.
● “According to Locke, a ruler gains authority through the consent of the governed. The
duty of that government is to protect the natural rights of the people, which Locke
believed to include life, liberty, and property.”
● This idea deeply influenced Thomas Jefferson as he drafted the Declaration of
Independence.
● Get into random ramble about British history and politics: Magna Carta, kings,
government, Parliament, Prime Ministers, etc…
● Petition of Right and English Bill of Rights…Democracy!!!!!!
● “The American founders were well versed in the writings of the philosophes, whose ideas
influenced the shaping of the new country.”
● Religious Issue too???
● “The Founders were concerned with restricting Federal power to eliminate the possibility
of tyranny; an example of this is the reservation to Congress of the power of declaring
war.”
● “To the Founders, rendering the military subservient to the civil power (the legislature)
was seen as a safeguard against a potentially tyrannical executive.”
