18 th Century
List the rights that you value. If these
rights were taken away, what means
would you go to get them back?
 Occurred during the 1700’s
 Middle class movement
 Led to scientific, political, and social advances
 Stressed the reason to question previous doctrines
 Moral or inalienable rights
 Not contingent upon laws, customs, or beliefs of a
particular society
 Different from legal rights, which are held by legal
statutes by some type of legislature
 Founders of American government considered
their ideas
 Many of their ideas, words and concepts were used
in the formation of our own government and
legislature
 Lived between 1632-1704
 English philosopher
 Wrote the Two Treatises of Government
 Believed that by nature, people had certain rights and
duties
 Natural rights (liberty (freedom), life and property)
 People formed government to protect these rights
 People could change the government if it failed to
protect their rights
 Lived between 1588-1679
 England
 He believed people needed to come together under a
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govt.
Without govt., there would be conflict and war
Govt. could be a monarchy or strong body
Govt. should fight to protect its people, which would
help them better serve their families and govt.
Wrote Leviathan- idea of social contract
 Lived between 1689-1755
 French Philosopher
 Wrote The Spirit of Laws
 Govt.’s purpose is to bring freedom/liberty
 Govt. should be in three branches with their own
powers
 Citizens would live freely, laws would treat them
equally, people would feel safe
 Swiss/French Philosopher
 Wrote The Social Contract
 Believed that people are good, people give the govt.
the power
 Individuals give up some of their rights for common
good or what is best for the society
 Citizens contribute to the “general will”, serve
everyone
 If the govt. fails the people, they have the right to
overthrow the govt.
 French Philosopher
 Wrote Candide
 Freedom of thought was the most important
 Did not trust democracy
 Believed only an enlightened monarch could bring
change
 Fought for civil rights-fair trial/freedom of religion
 King’s best interest to improve the power and
wealth of his people and kingdom