This document discusses the philosophical origins of American government through the lens of Enlightenment philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It outlines their views on natural rights, the state of nature, and the purpose of government as a social contract to protect individual rights and security. According to Hobbes, people create absolute governments to gain security and protection in exchange for personal freedoms. Locke believed governments secure natural rights like life, liberty and property through the consent of the governed. Rousseau saw direct democracy as protecting rights while minimizing their removal.

1. PHILISOPHICAL
ORIGINS OF
AMERCIAN
GOVERNMENT

2. Enlightenment Philosophy
Use of logic and reason to solve human
problems
Questioning the divine right of kings
Written into our nation’s founding
documents
The Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution

3. Natural Rights
The philosophy-belief- that all human beings are born
with certain rights:
The right to life
The right to be free
The right to think independently
The right to express your beliefs
The right to be treated equally or fairly before the law

4. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
The state of nature
No natural rights
Rights are won through
force of violence
Life is, "nasty, brutish,
and short"

5. Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan (1651)
People create
governments to gain
security
Freedoms are given up
in exchange for
protection
Complete loyalty to the
government

6. Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan (1651)
One ruler with
absolute authority
Governments must
provide natural
rights
Government is a
social contract
between people
and their
representatives

7. Thomas Hobbes

8. Thomas Hobbes Questions
What is the purpose of
government
according to Hobbes?
Which of his points do
you agree with?
Explain.
Which of his points do
you disagree with?
Explain.

9. John Locke (1632-1704)
The state of nature
The ideal state, but…
People tend to do as they
wish
People tend to violate the
natural rights of others
Governments secure
natural rights

11. John Locke
Two Treatises on
Government (1689)
Consent of the
governed
Natural rights
Life
Liberty
Property

12. John Locke
Two Treatises on Government
(1689)
Governments must protect
natural rights
Government is a social
contract between people and
their representatives

13. John Locke Questions
What is the purpose of
government according
to Locke?
Which of his points do
you agree with?
Explain.
Which of his points do
you disagree with?
Explain.

14. Assignment
Complete sheet based on information in powerpoint

15. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
The state of nature
The ideal state, but…
People tend to form
governments
Governments tend to
remove natural rights
Governments must
leave natural rights
alone as much as
possible

16. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The Social Contract
(1762)
“Man is born free, yet
everywhere he is found in
chains.”
Direct democracy is the
answer
Everyone participates in
every decision
Everyone must submit to
the “will of the majority”

17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The Social Contract
(1762)
Governments must
protect natural rights
Governments must
minimize the removal of
natural rights
Governments are a
social contract between
people and their
representatives

18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Questions
What is the purpose
of government
according to
Rousseau?
Which of his points
do you agree with?
Explain.
Which of his points
do you disagree
with? Explain.