William Blackstone – his Ideas…
He believed laws should protect the people and their “unalienable rights” (rights granted by God not by a
government).
Impact & influence…
Rights were “self-evident” or obvious, was carried into the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Hooker – his Ideas…
Believed in the principle of equality for all mankind
Impact & Influence…
He helped write the “Fundamental Orders of Connecticut”, the first written democratic constitution.
A model for our US Constitution
John Locke – his Ideas…
The community gives a little of their power over to the government in exchange for protection, in what Locke
called a “social contract.”
Purpose of government was to protect the life, liberty and property of its citizens
Impact & Influence…
Jefferson included many of Locke’s ideas in the Declaration of Independence.
Baron Charles Montesquieu – his Ideas…
Government must be separated into three branches to keep one branch from becoming too powerful.
Encouraged the development of a system of checks and balances, which allows one branch to stop another from
becoming too powerful.
Impact & Influence…
These ideas are included in our U.S. Constitution
William Penn – his Ideas…
Thought it was important to limit the power of the government
Government would have two houses, protect the rights of property ownership and free enterprise and tax fairly.
Power should come from the people
Impact & Influence…
Ideas of religious freedom were adopted into the bill of rights