American Heritage 1

Front 1

Founding

Back 1

a conscious, deliberate act of creating a system of government that benefits the people

Front 2

Patria

Back 2

A sense of homeland

Front 3

Republic

Back 3

From the latin res republica, the "public thing." when citizens of the political state govern themselves rather than to submit to a monarch, despot, or oligarchy.

Front 4

Heritage

Back 4

the traditions, beliefs, principles, event, etc that we inherit or choose to inherit from the past

Front 5

Sovereignty

Back 5

Ultimate political power--having the final say

Front 6

Human predicament

Back 6

the cycle from tyranny to anarchy, to which sovereign power and its ill effects give rise

Front 7

Despot

Back 7

A ruler exercising absolute power

Front 8

Revolution

Back 8

a means of removing tyranny from power; part of the human predicament cycle.

Front 9

Tyranny

Back 9

Absolute power centralized in one person or small group; part of the human predicament cycle

Front 10

Anarchy

Back 10

no person maintains absolute power. Characterized by mass order caused by failure to agree on a common course of action; part of the human predicament cycle

Front 11

Competing groups

Back 11

groups that, in a state of anarchy, fight for supreme power and control; part of the human predicament cycle

Front 12

good society

Back 12

reasonably stable and prosperous society without an opressive turanny. usually includes peace, respect, vibrant culture, and personal freedom to the live the way one chooses

Front 13

Plato

Back 13

427-447 BC Greek philosopher and te author of "The Republic" which extolled civicc virtue and the necessity of arete.

Front 14

Political legitimacy

Back 14

Ruling by a sanction higher than stark necessity; sanction may stem from divine right, wisdom, or concent

Front 15

King James 1

Back 15

1566-1625. he was of England and claimed political legitimacy through a "divine right of kings"

Front 16

Theocracy

Back 16

Divinely inspired rule or rule by religion

Front 17

Aristocracy

Back 17

Rule based on distinguished or wise ancestors and heritage

Front 18

Greek freedom

Back 18

The privilage of taking part in the political process and observing society's rules

Front 19

Human Nature

Back 19

the fundamental disposition of humans that determines their behavior

Front 20

Arete

Back 20

Greek name for human virtue, the ackbone of republican morality. Striving for Excellence