SSCG1: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of United States constitutional government.
SSCG2: The student will analyze the natural right philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence. SSCG3: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution.
Thomas Hobbes- Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy. His 1651 book Leviathan established social contract theory, the foundation of most later Western political philosophy.
John Locke- John Locke was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of liberalism". Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Sir Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social contract theory. His work greatly affected the development of epistemology and political philosopher. His writings influenced Voltairer and Rousseau , many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American Revolution. His contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in the United States Declaration of Independence.
Declaration of Independence
Constitutional Convention
In September 1786, at the Annapolis Convention, delegates from five states called for a Constitutional Convention in order to discuss possible improvements to the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787.