Heimler's History: Ideals of Democracy

Introduction

Focus on AP Government curriculum.
Topic: Ideals of Democracy.
Objective: Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Natural Rights
- Concept: People are born with rights from their creator, not a monarch.
- Key Figures: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.
- Locke's View: Life, Liberty, and Property.
- State of Nature: Condition before government; Hobbes saw chaos, Locke saw freedom.
- Influential in Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
Popular Sovereignty and Social Contract
- Power to govern originates from the people.
- People willingly give power to a government to protect natural rights.
- Key Figure: Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
- Rousseau's View: Government should be overthrown if it becomes tyrannical.
Republicanism
- Concept: People elect leaders to represent and create laws.
- Separation of Powers: Executive, Legislative, Judicial branches.
- Key Figure: Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the Laws".

Declaration of Independence
- Written by Thomas Jefferson, with help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
- Key Enlightenment Influences:
  - Natural Rights: "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".
  - Social Contract: Government exists to protect these rights.
  - Popular Sovereignty: Power from the consent of the governed.
Constitution
- Blueprint for separation of powers and republicanism.
- Drafted following ineffective Articles of Confederation.
- Philadelphia Convention (1787): George Washington presided.
- James Madison led the drafting.
- Republicanism: Representative republic instead of pure democracy.
- Separation of Powers: Checks and balances among three branches.