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9 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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We The People
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*Native Americans: on the land for 30,000 years. Varied cultures, political systems, est. population 100 million, diseased & displaced by waves of settlers.
*Early Americans: Fortune seekers & laborers in commercial ventures (Dutch in NY). Persectured English Protestants (Puritans) 1620's. Soon challenged by other religious groups & individuals. *Growth of religious tolerance *Period of political development |
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Ideas: The Social Contract, Hobbes and Locke
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*Thomas Hobbes, 1651, Leviathon.
*A bad, abusive gov't is better thatn none at all, in other words, gov't is... *Without gov't, life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short *One ruler, to protect the weak against the strong *Point of reference: the British Civil War, American migration underway, pessimistic atmosphere |
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Social Contract: John Locke, 1680
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*Treastise:
*People are born free and equal *They agree, by a contract to be governed *If they are mistreated, they have the right to revoke that contract *One chief executive/king is acceptable, only if his power is limited by law or contract *Locke's version is evident in America's Declaration of Independence |
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Monarchy
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Power is vested in hereditary king/queen who governs in the interest of the people.
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Totalitarian
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Power forcibly taken by one who rules in his own interest with no regard for the rights and freedoms of the people.
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Oligarchy
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rule by the few (wealth, status)
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Democracy
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Power vested in the people, govern directly or through elected representatives
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American Political Culture
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*Defined: commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how gov't should operate.
*Liberty, Equality-Freedom from, now freedom to, Equality under the law (both stated in 14th Amendment).Problem? *Popular Consent, Majority Rule, & Popular Sovereignty. Core democratic values. Individualism (rather than group focus of gov't) *Religious Faith & Religious Freedom |
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Functions of Gov't
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*Establish Justice- the rule of law for the rational dispensing fo justice by acknowlegded legal authorites
*Ensure domestic tranquility-keep order, especially in times of crisis *Provide for the common defense-against threats from abroad, army and navy *Promote the general welfare-an ideal... *Secure the blessings of liberty-Bill of Rights |
