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384 BCE
Aristotle
Aristotle, in his Politics, describes the happy life intended for man by nature as one lived in accordance with virtue and he describes the role that politics and the political community must play in bringing about the virtuous life in society. Aristotle's main views in Politics were:
-The Good Life (key to happiness is virtue)
-Virtues & Vice (temperance)
-Man is a Politcal Animal
-Best State: Polity
-Believed in a Strong Middle Class -
May 12, 1513
Machiavelli
Machiavelli's The Prince was a dedication to Lorenzo de Medici, which discusses the conduct of great men, the principles of princely government, and is an analysis of how to acquire and maintain political power. Machiavelli believed that power is an end of itself instead of viewing power as a means of a higher end.
The Good prince:
-Skilled in deception
-Cunning
-Breaks promises but is still loyal.
Also believed:
-The ends justify the means
-It is better to be feared than loved -
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English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalist over, principally, the manner of England's government. Hobbes was a witness of the English Civil war before he wrote Leviathan, which fear factored in on his opinion. -
Hobbes
Hobbes' idea of commonwealth is ruled by a sovereign power responsible for protecting the security of the commonwealth and granted absolute authority to ensure the common defense. His description of commonwealth mimics the human body. Hobbes believed that human beings are inherently selfish and that they are at a constant state of war because every man is against every man since they will do anything to better their positions. We also, voluntarily give up our liberty through the social contract. -
Locke
In the Second Treatise of Government, Locke discusses men's move from a state of nature by perfect freedom and governed by reason to a civil government which the authority is vested in a legislative and executive power. The purpose of the social contract through under Locke is to establish organized law and order. Hobbes had a more optimistic viewpoint as man being naturally civilized and believed that men are subject to the laws of nature.
Natural Rights
-Life, Liberty, Property -
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The American Revolution
U.S. War of Independence from conflict that arose between Great Britain and the 13 North American colonies due to:
-Tax increase after French and Indian War
-Lack of representation in parliament
-Abuse of the England crown -
The Declaration of Independence
In May and June of 1776, the Continental Congress debated resolutions for independence, The Declaration of Independence listed the colonists grievances against the British. The Declaration was a polemic, announcing and justifying the revolution. -
The Philadelphia Convention
Representatives from all the states, except Rhode Island, came to Philadelphia to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation but realized they would never receive unanimous support of all 13 states. The 55 delegates from 12 states ignored the instructions to revise the Articles of Confederation and began writing the the Constitution. Those Gentlemen in Philadelphia were:
-Wealthy planter & merchants
-College graduates
-From larger cities -
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Dual Federalism
System in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between national and state government. Dual Federalism is the type of Federalism the government was based on for over a century, which the national and state government rarely overlapped. During the 20th and 21st century the relationship between the two governments changed since the role of the national government increased over the years. The Civil War and the Great Depression took power away from the state, making federalism unsuccessful. -
The Anti-Federalist
The Anti-Federalist papers is the collective name given to words written by the Founding Fathers who were opposed to or concerned with the merits of the Constitution. Anti-Federalist favored:
-State government
-Government controlled by ordinary
-Majority rule
-Policies favoring farmers, artisans, and skilled workers
-Bill of Rights
-Active participation of the people
-Executive leads to monarchy
-Necessary and proper clause makes the national government too powerful -
The Constitution
The United State Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution consist of articles, known as Amendments, faming the national government. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights protecting liberty and justice, placing restrictions of the power of the government. The rest of amendments expand individual rights and addresses issues related to federal authority. -
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay Adams promoting the ratification of the Constitution. Federalist favored:
-Strong central government
-Government should promote trade, finance, & business
-Strong executive is necessary for a strong central government
-Distrustful of majority rule
-Checks and Balances to limit power of the government
-Necessary and proper classes is needed if government is to accomplish its tasks -
Right to Bear Arms
The Second Amendment of the Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. -
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The American Civil War
The Northern states' victory determines that the federal government is not a compact among sovereign states. Rather, its authority flows directly from the people, However, the war does not resolve the conflict between federal and states' rights. -
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The Great Depression
The Great Depression was the most economic downfall in American history caused by the stock market crash in 1929. -
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The New Deal
In response to business failure and poverty, President Roosevelt created programs to strengthen the economy and prevent additional depression through his New Deal. The New Deal created social security, increased banking regulations, commerce, and programs to shrink poverty. In result of these new programs, the federal government gained an enormous amount of power weakening the power of state governments. -
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Cooperative Federalism
Since the federal government's power has increased after the Civil War and the Great Depression, authority between federal and state governments have overlapped more often than ever creating a system representing a marble cake instead of a layered cake. -
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New Federalism
The administration moves to limit power of the federal government to impose policies on state and local governments during the Reagan presidency. -
The Right to Marry
The Fourteenth Amendment and Same-Sex Marriages effectively made same-sex marriage a right under the federal law. The court did not overturn the foundational premise that marriage is a civil right. Lower courts, even when relying on disparate state-level constitutional language have acknowledged the right to marry.
