Important Thinkers Influencing American Political Theory
John Locke: Second Treatise on Civil Government (1690) (late 17th century during England's "Glorious Revolution") |
Men set up governments in order to protect their property Natural Rights: Life, liberty, and property
Natural right to rebellion: A government that oversteps its proper function becomes a tyranny. Rebellion can be avoided if government respects the right of its citizens and if the people defend their liberties.
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Baron de Montesquieu: The Spirit of Laws(1748) |
Checks and balances; separation of powers among 3 branches of gov’t Despotism could be avoided if political power were divided and shared by a diversity of classes and orders holding unequal rights and privileges.
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Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations (1776)
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Most significant work on capitalism ever written; founded modern economics; Formulated the idea of a free economy; contrasted sharply with mercantilism
Free competition, via private enterprise, would result in greater income for everyone, not just the rich.
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