Principles of Government

A time before society and government. Hobbes said it was brutal. Rousseau said it was peaceful.

• autocracy

• state of nature

• social contract

• natural rights

This philosopher thought we were born a blank slate and that governments job was to protect our natural rights.

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This philosopher believed that people were born selfish and society protected us from each other.

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This philosopher believed that people were born good and peaceful and that society created conflict.

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

John Locke's natural rights

• liberty and justice for all

• life, liberty and property

• food, clothing and shelter

• Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

An agreement between the people and their government.

• social contract

• anarchy

• rule of law

• separation of power

A government in which people are personally involved in the decision making of the country. Most countries are too large for this to work.

• representative democracy

• theocracy

• autocracy

• direct democracy

A king or queen rules the country.

• democracy

• oligarcy

• monarchy

• state of nature

A lack of government, usually in a transition period.

• theocracy

• oligarchy

• anarchy

• dictatorship

A form of government where people elect others to make laws and decisions for them.

• oligarchy

• representative democracy

• autocracy

• direct democracy