Week 2

What are humans really like according to locke?

Political Philosophies Reflected in Founding Documents:

The state of nature: Hobbes VS Locke 

● Madison: Government is a reflection of human nature

● What are humans really like?

○ Hobbes: “life is nasty, brutish, and short.”

■ Need for authoritarian ruler

○ Locke: Government exists only to protect “life, liberty, and property” ■ Limited government, republican form

The Declaration as a Social Contract:

● Locke and the Social Contract

○ The consent of the governed

○ Government should protect rights

What makes the articles of confederation "locke-ian"?

○ People should remove governments that fail to protect

The Articles of Confederation:

● Very “Locke-ian” document

○ States held most power

■ Weak national government to coordinate between states Don't forget about the age old question of Who are the free african americans?

○ States equal in power

■ Maintain state militias, set taxes, and negotiated commerce

○ Lack of an executive and judicial branch (federal)

What could go wrong?? 

Hobbes and Locke in the Constitution:

● The Constitution is a bit of a contradiction

● Creates a strong national government

○ Congress: power to tax, draft, and regulate commerce

Why does hobbes believe that the constitution is a bit of contradiction?

We also discuss several other topics like How are inequality and privilege related to each other?

○ President: Control of a military

○ Supreme Court: Adjudicate cases; final decision

The Ratification Debate

The Federalists VS The Antifederalists

I. Ratify!

A. The Federalist papers outlines the reasons for ratification

1. Ability to respond to national crisis

a) Federal Government can intercode

2. Separation of Powers controls “ambition”

3. “Factions” control “Tyranny”

II. Not so fast, Federalists!

A. The “Anti-federalists” condemned the new constitution

1. Federalism limits state culture

2. Presidential control of a large standing army Don't forget about the age old question of Whata re the characteristics of water when cohesiveness is present?

3. “Necessary and Proper Clause”

4. No Individual Rights

III. The Bill of Rights!

A. Based on English Common Law/issues before the war

1. Freedom to religion, speech, and press

2. Freedom to have weapons

3. No quartering

4. No search and seizure

5. Due process; no trying a case again

6. Trial by public jury, right to defend yourself If you want to learn more check out What is the formula for molality?
If you want to learn more check out What is the difference between speciation and systematics?
We also discuss several other topics like What refers to plants that produce spore/s?

7. Cannot appeal to another court unless through common law 8. No cruel and unusual punishment

9. Other rights remain

10. States Rights