TEKS 8.12A: identify economic differences
among different regions of the United States
TEKS 8.20A: explain the role of significant individuals
such as Thomas Hooker, Charles de Montesquieu,
John Locke, William Blackstone, and William Penn in
the development of self-government in colonial
America
Definitions
Identify: To recognize as being a particular person
or thing
Explain: To make plain, clear or understandable
John Locke:
Natural Rights are “Locked
in”
British political philosopher and physician. His ideas, especially
that all men have NATURAL RIGHTS (rights that all are born
with), influenced many American thinkers. Locke’s Natural
Rights were identified as, “Life, Liberty and Property.”
One American Thinker, THOMAS JEFFERSON, incorporated
Locke’s ideas in his writing. In the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson says all men have “UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, that
among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Charles
Montesquieu:
Montesquieu sounds like B-B-Q...
B separate from B separate from Q
French political thinker from the AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Famous for his view that the powers of government should be
separated
SEPARATION OF POWER
Government should be divided into three branches,
EXECUTIVE (enforces law), LEGISLATIVE (writes law), and
JUDICIAL (interprets law – the court system)
The U.S. Government and state governments are set up along
these lines
William Penn:
Penn =
PENNsylvania
Early English Quaker, Penn founded the colony that bears his
family’s name: PENSYLVANIA.
Advocated DEMOCRACY and RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
PHILEDELPHIA was planned under his direction.
Fought for equal treatment of NATIVE AMERICANS
Thought the English Colonies should be UNITED. (It’s obvious
now, but it wasn’t then.)
Thomas
Hooker:
Famous colonial leader who is considered the founder of
Connecticut. He was one of the authors of the
FUNDAMANTAL ORDERS OF CONNECTICUT.
Hooker believed in extending SUFFRAGE to all FREEMEN,
and even though he was a Puritan, he advocated tolerance
toward other CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS.
William
Blackstone:
•Famous English Lawyer, professor and author of
COMMENTARIES ON THE LAWS OF ENGLAND.
•Blackstone is the first to actually write down and organize
ENGLISH COMMON LAW, which had never happened before.
•His writings influenced THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE, THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE
FEDERALIST PAPERS and more.
•Even today, he is cited by the SUPREME COURT 10-12 times a
year.