CIVICS/GEOGRAPHY Unit 1 Question 1

Wednesday, September 10

STINGER

•Why do people need government? (Give at least three reasons)

UNIT 1 QUESTION1

•How did both Classical Republicans and natural rights philosophers influence the founders’ views about government? • What are the essential differences between classical

republicanism and natural right philosophy? • Why did both classical republicans and natural rights

philosophers stress the need for education and preparation for citizenship?

DRAW A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION

• Fold a piece of paper once vertically and once horizontally to create four boxes

• On the front of the paper (the side with the holes on the left), Write “from the power point notes” • Label the two columns “Classical Republicans” and “Natural Rights Philosophers” • Label the two rows “Basic Beliefs” and “Importance of Education”

• On the back of the paper (the side with the holes on the right), write “from the station worksheets”• Label the two columns “Classical Republicans” and “Natural Rights Philosophers” • Label the two rows “Basic Beliefs” and “Importance of Education”

• As we go through the powerpoint, arrange your notes on the first side

• As you move through the worksheet station and complete the worksheets, arrange any additional information on the back side

• Keep this page in your notes, as you will be asked to write an extended response using this information at the end of the unit.

WHO ARE THE CLASSICAL REPUBLICANS AND THE NATURAL RIGHTS PHILOSOPHERS?

• Classical Republicans• Greeks and Romans • Socrates by way of Plato

• The Crito, the Phaedo, and the Apology • The Republic

• Aristotle• The Ethics • The Politics

• Natural Rights Philosophers • Post Renaissance and Post Reformation Western Europeans • John Locke • Thomas Hobbes • Jean Jacques Rousseau

WHAT DID THEY THINK: THE CLASSICAL REPUBLICANS

• The Classical Republicans • Purpose of government is to allow citizens to enjoy rights • Rights are protected by your membership in a group (ie there are certain rights

for citizens) • Different forms of governments had different benefits

• Monarchy (Rule by One) • Beneficial during times of war and crisis • Stable and secure

• Oligarchy (Rule by few) • Allows the most qualified to lead in the best interests of the community (polis- city)• Plato suggested a system of “philosopher kings” • Aristotle is root of “Aristocracy,” which is a term for rule by the elite

• Democracy • Actually a negative term for Demos (common or low people) kratos (rule) • Seen as negative because the common people do not know how to rule or are prone to

making bad decisions that deprive the rights of minorities • Greek system involved all male citizens being called upon to make all decisions (direct

democracy)

WHAT DID THEY THINK: THE CLASSICAL REPUBLICANS CONT.

• The Republic • Means “Thing of the People” (Respublica) • Involves representation of the many by the educated, talented, and qualified (Representative

Democracy) • Important factors for representative democracy to work

• Small, uniform communities• Based on the city-state, like Athens or Sparta • Small population of like-minded people • People share culture, goals, customs, beliefs, etc.

• Civic Virtue• People must be willing to devote their time, treasure, and talents to their communities • Needs of the many outweigh the few (common good) • Service to community is the highest form of work (Politics is the highest science)

• Moral Education • Religion or mythology to teach all people the same moral values • Helps achieve uniformity of the community • Ensures that the members of the community share goals.

WHAT DID THEY THINK: THE NATURAL RIGHTS

PHILOSOPHERS• Thomas Hobbes

• People are basically evil • Government exists to protect the lives of citizens (security) • People have a right to life • There is a sacred contract between the people and the government through which people

give up all rights and powers in exchange for protection from harm. (covenant)• All powerful monarch necessary to protect life (Leviathan.

• John Locke• People are basically good but self interested • People are born with equal rights to life, liberty, and property• The state of nature quickly dissolves into a state of war • People give up some power in exchange for the protections of life, liberty, and property• The agreement between the government and the governed is a social contract• People design their own government to leave power mainly in the hands of the people

WHAT DID THEY THINK: THE NATURAL RIGHTS PHILOSOPHERS CONT.

• Rousseau• People are meant to be alone, but society corrupts• Government should rule in the best interests of the people (NOT direct

democracy)

• General beliefs• Rights are held by individuals because they are human, not because they

belong to a certain group • Government exists to protect rights by providing security • There is a social contract between people and the government that cannot

be violated • If the social contract is violated, people can change the government

SO WHAT

• Founders of American government tried to strike a balance• Influences of classical republicanism

• State power to preserve small, uniform communities • Republican form of government (representative democracy) • Focus on an educated and inspired elite to lead • Strong executive with broad foreign relations powers

• Influences of natural rights philosophers • Written constitution• Limited government • Strong legislative powers • Frequent elections at many levels • Protection of Individual Rights

• Balancing the rights of individuals with the common good