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American Heritage
Chapters 1: The Problem of Government
33
History
Undergraduate 1
09/26/2007

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Term
sovereignty
Definition
ultimate political power--having the final say.
Term
human predicament
Definition
the cycle from tyranny to anarchy to which sovereign power and its ill effects give rise. tyranny to revolution to anarchy to competing groups to tyranny.
Term
despot
Definition
a ruler exercising absolute power
Term
revolution
Definition
a means of removing someone from power
Term
tyranny
Definition
absolute power centralized in one pwerson (or small group)
Term
anarchy
Definition
no one person (or group) maintains absolute power. characterized by mass disorder caused by failure to agree on a common course of actions.
Term
competitng groups
Definition
groups that in a state of anarchy fight for supreme power and control.
Term
good society
Definition
reasonably stable and prosperous society without an oppressive tyranny. usually includes peace, respect, vibrant culture, and personal freedom to live the way on chooses.
Term
plato
Definition
427- 347 BC
Greek Philosopher which extolled civic virtue and the necessity of arete.
Term
arete
Definition
virtue as extolled in plato's rebulic.
backbone of rebulican morality. striving for excellence.
Term
political legitimacy
Definition
ruling by a sanction higher than stark necessity: sanction may stem from divine right wisdom or consent.
Term
king james I
Definition
1566-1625. claimed political legitimacy through a "divine right of kings"
Term
divine right of kings
Definition
political theory that royal lines are established by god and that kinds rule by divine decree.
Term
theocracy
Definition
divinely inspired rule or rule by religion
Term
aristocracy
Definition
rule based on distinguished or wise ancestors and heritage
Term
Greek freedom
Definition
the privilege of taking part in the political process and observing society's rules.
Term
human nature
Definition
the fundamental disposition of humans that determines their behavior.
Term
four cardinal virtues
Definition
wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice
Term
Christian virtues
Definition
Meekness, patience, humility, long suffering, compassion, love for one's neighbor.
Term
European Enlightenment
Definition
18th century philosophical movement that proposed individual self interest, rather than Greek virtue or Christian humility, as the motivating factor in human behavior.
Term
autocracy
Definition
one of the four alternative forms of government; sees people as children in need of a carefully controlled environment provided by government.
Term
classical republicanism
Definition
one of 4 alternative forms of government. sees people as mostly good but corruptible and so government should have restricted power and try to encourage a good moral climate.
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
first ten amendments to the constitution regarding basic protections of rights from the government, passed in response to the anti-federalist argument against the initial constitution.
Term
libertarianism
Definition
one of the four alternatives forms of government; sees the most important value as individual freedom and holds that government should only protect that freedom and nothing more.
Term
liberalism
Definition
one fo the four alternative forms of government. sees people in the most favorable light, but institutions or other influences can corrupt them so government is necessary to protect them from such corruption.
Term
Thomas Jefferson
Definition
Third President. Principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

Political philosopher promoted classical liberalism, republicanism, and the separation of church and state, he was the author of the virginia statute from religious freedom which was the basis for the establishment clause.
Term
sturcture
Definition
rules and restrictions
Term
Founders Toolbox
Definition
Structure. Participation. Law. Custom and Tradition. Moral Sense. Founding Myths. Leadership.
Term
Polis
Definition
City or city-state, often self-governed by its citizens as the ancient Greek city-states were.
Term
Social Compact
Definition
The social concept of a group of autonomous individuals living in a state of nature, making a common agreement about the sort of political world they want to live in.
Term
State of Nature
Definition
Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live in "complete freedom and general equality.
Term
Christopher Columbus
Definition
1451-1506
Genoese mariner who discovered the Americas while searching for a new trade route to india.
Term
Corporate communities
Definition
Colonial Settlements established for economic or financial purposes by various companies. Although usually chartered by the crown, their remote circumstances helped foster the idea and practice of self-governance.

Virginia Company. Charter signed by James I 1606. Jamestown.
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