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flashcards for midterm
114
History
Undergraduate 1
02/08/2010

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Term
Founding
Definition
A conscious, deliberate act of creating a system of government that benefits the people.
Term
Patria
Definition
A sense of homeland.
Term
Republic
Definition
From the Latin res publica, the "public thing" when citizens of the political state govern themselves rather than submit to a monarch, despot, or oligarchy
Term
Heritage
Definition
The traditions, beliefs, principles, events, etc. that we inherit (or choose to inherit) from the past
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
Term
Despot
Definition
A ruler exercising absolute power.
Term
Revolution
Definition
A means of removing tyranny from power; part of the human predicament cycle.
Term
Tyranny
Definition
Absolute power centralized in one person (or small group); part of the human predicament cycle.
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 action; part of the human predicament cycle.
Term
Competing Groups
Definition
Groups that, in a state of anarchy, fight for supreme power and control; part of the human predicament cycle.
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 one chooses.
Term
Plato
Definition
Greek philosopher, author of the republic, praised civic vitrue and the necessity of arete.
Term
Political legitimacy
Definition
ruling by a sanction higher than stark necessity; sanction may stem from divine right, wisdom or consent, etc.
Term
King James I
Definition
king of England, 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 kings 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 societies rules.
Term
Human Nature
Definition
The fundamental disposition of humans that determines their behavior
Term
Arete
Definition
Greek term for human virtue, the backbone of republican morality. Striving for excellence.
Term
Arete
Definition
Greek term for human virtue, the backbone of of republican morality. Striving for excellence.
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 the government
Term
Classical Republicanism
Definition
one of the four alternative forms of government; sees people (and government) 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 rights from the government, passed in response to the Anti-Federalist argument against the initial Constitution.
Term
Libertarianism
Definition
One of the four alternative forms of government; sees the most important value as indvidual freedom and holds that government should only protect that freedom and nothing more.
Term
LIberalism
Definition
One of the four alternatives forms of government; sees people in the most favorable light, but institutions or other influence can corrupt them , so other influences can corrupt them, so government is necessary to protect them from such corruption.
Term
Thomas Jefferson
Definition
principal author of the declaration of independence, an influential founding father of the united states. He promoted classical liberalism, republicanism, and the separation of church and state.
Term
Structure
Definition
Rules and restrictions designed to better harness virtue.
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 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
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.
Term
John Rolfe
Definition
virginia colonist who pioneered the cultivation of tobacco as a profitable agricultural enterprise.
Term
Indentured servitude
Definition
land owners would pay the passage of those willing to come to the colonies in exchange for an agreed-upon term of service, after which the indentured servant was released from his obligation and was then free to seek his own fortune.
Term
House of Burgesses
Definition
An assembly of representative elected by the common people of the virginia colony, similar to the house of commons
Term
Covenant Communities
Definition
Settlements based on religious or moral values, mostly interested in being an example to Europe or living according to their own moral liberty
Term
Robert Brown
Definition
advocator of the Separatist movement, demanded separation from the church of england. His writings inspired groups such as the Pilgrims to emigrate to America for religious freedom.
Term
Puritans
Definition
British religious emigrants who wanted to reform the Church of England rather than sever all ties with it; their beliefs in the Christian Calling, Moral Self-Governance , and in being God's Elect would help shape the Founding and American national character.
Term
John Calvin
Definition
French theologian during the Protestant Reformation who greatly influenced Puritan beliefs. He taught the Bible was the final authority for matters of faith and that salvation came through grace only, not works. He also taught the doctrine of predestination.
Term
God's Elect
Definition
from calvin's theory, God has already chosen those who will be saved. These elect people are to build a holy community as an example.
Term
The Christian Calling
Definition
From Calvin's theory, people should pursue a "calling" in some sort of worldly work where they are to rise early in the morning, work hard, save their money, and invest it wisely. Prosperity indicates God's approval.
Term
Moral self-governance
Definition
puritan ideal that all must live a righteous life largely on their own, with each man being responsible for his own actions and those of his family- with an eye on his neighbor as well.
Term
John Winthrop
Definition
goveernor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before their departure from England. Known for his sermon "A Model of Christian Charity" said that the Puritan colony would be a city upon a hill
Term
Tabula Rasa
Definition
Latin for clean slate or blank slate. Puritans felt that the new world was a tabula ras on which mankind could begin the human story anew.
Term
City on a Hill
Definition
Biblical ideal, started by winthrop, a society governed by civil liberty, people did only that which was just and good, that would be an example to the world.
Term
Natural Liberty
Definition
Where men are free to do what they please, without regard for the moral value of their actions.
Term
Civil Liberty
Definition
According to winthrop, where men were free to do only that which is good, just, and honest.
Term
King James I of England
Definition
King of England, Scotland, Ireland, and first king of Great Britain. First monarch of England from the House of Stuart, succeeding the last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I who died without an heir
Term
John Locke
Definition
English philosopher, wrote Treatises of Government, espousing natural rights, consent of the governed, and social compacts greatly influenced the Founding Fathers.
Term
Whig Party
Definition
England's first political party, organized in political opposition to the King; Americans later formed their own Whig party during the Jacksonian democracy era, but the two parties did not hold the same ideology
Term
Second Treatise of Government
Definition
John Locke's work arguing that true political authority comes not from God or precedent but from the people.
Term
William of Orange
Definition
acceded the throne with his wife Mary, in 1689 and became William III of England.
Term
Glorious Revolution
Definition
1688 bloodless ENglish revolution against the King, making the King subject to Parliament; considered a true founding of government.
Term
Rule of Law
Definition
A set of metalegal principles developed by the English legal system as a way of distinguishing whether a particular law supported freedom or not.
Term
Natural Law
Definition
law that classical Greeks believed resided in the human heart and reflects our innate sense of right and wrong.
Term
Natural rights
Definition
fundamental rights granted by nature that government cannot abrogate and which government is bound to protect
Term
Cicero
Definition
orator, statesman, political theorist, lawyer, and philosopher of ancient Rome.
Term
Common Law
Definition
law that is considered to be from natural law principles but that is framed in a form that can be interpreted more concretely.
Term
Generality
Definition
rule of law principle that sates when laws are made they must apply to broad categories of people and must not single out individuals or groups for special treatment.
Term
Prospectivity
Definition
rule of law principle that states laws must apply to future action and not past action
Term
Publicity
Definition
rule of law principle that states laws must be known and certain, such that everyone knows of their existence and their enforcement is reasonably reliable
Term
Consent
Definition
rule of law principle that states laws must be generally acceptable to those who must live by them
Term
French and Indian War
Definition
Britain and her colonies fought against the French with their respective native allies. The French were defeated, solidifying British control of North America
Term
Due Process
Definition
rule of law principle that states when laws are applied they must be administered impartially
Term
Montesquieu
Definition
French political thinker who favored the British system of rule and lauded the idea of separation of powers.
Term
Commonwealth ideology
Definition
The idea that the "Country party" had the best strategy and opportunity to preserve liberty against the "Court party"
Term
Court Party/Touries
Definition
english royal court and the center of British political power; characterized by corruption and subversion
Term
Country Party
Definition
English opposition to the "court party" that consisted of commonwealth men (everyday citizens). The Country party was considered morally independent with pure motives.
Term
John Adams
Definition
had a strong belief in the rule of law which led him to defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. His defense demonstrated to the world that the colonists were civilized and could therefore govern themselves.
Term
Separation of Powers
Definition
dividing powers of government between the separate branches
Term
Adam Smith
Definition
Scottish philosopher and economist who wrote the wealth of nations. He is considered the father of modern economics.
Term
Mercantilism
Definition
an economic theory that emphasized the importance of stockpiling gold and silver to the economic power of a nation. Mercantilists regulated the economy by encouraging exports and restricting imports.
Term
Command System
Definition
an economic system in which the allocation of resources is heavily controlled by government instead of free market forces.
Term
Navigation Acts
Definition
economic regulation passed by British Parliament to enforce trade regulations in the colonies: all trade had to go through British or colonial merchants and be shipped in British or colonial ships with the end goal to generate large exports from England, with few imports, so that gold and silver would flow into the motherland.
Term
Capitalism
Definition
the philosophy of a free market economy in which the government serves only to create an acceptable environment in which to make exchanges
Term
The Wealth of Nations
Definition
book by Adam Smith, criticized mercantilism and proposed a free economy in which the "invisible hand" determined prices.
Term
Markets
Definition
Divisions of the economy that specialize in certain goods or services
Term
Market Economy
Definition
an economic model advanced by Adam Smith in which the forces of individual self-interest regulate the economy. This self-regulation eliminates the need for most government interventions
Term
Exchange
Definition
Trade between 2 parties
Term
Role of money
Definition
money facilitates exchange by eliminating the necessity for a coincidence of wants, functioning as a generally acceptable medium for exchange
Term
Coincidence of wants
Definition
when 2 parties each possess something desired by the other, promoting an exchange.
Term
Specilization
Definition
the economic practice of focusing resources on production of one or a few goods.
Term
Perfect Competition
Definition
when buyers and sellers have no influence on price and terms of exchange.
Term
Collusion
Definition
When sellers are conspiring to maintain a high price and avoid competing with one another
Term
Monopoly
Definition
When one person or group captures enough market power to control or manipulate prices; the lack of competition in a market
Term
Law of Supply
Definition
As the price of a particular good or service rises, suppliers will produce more of that good or service
Term
Law of Demand
Definition
As the price of a particular good or service rises, individuals will buy less of that good or service
Term
Role of Prices
Definition
In a market economy, prices determine the quantity of goods supplied
Term
Role of Profits
Definition
In a market economy, as profits increase, the number of suppliers and resources for making that good will increase.
Term
Equilibrium Price
Definition
The price at which the amount demanded is equal to the amount supplied
Term
Shortage
Definition
When the amount demanded is greater than the amount supplied
Term
Surplus
Definition
When the amount supplied is greater than the amount demanded
Term
The Invisible Hand
Definition
Adam Smith's term for the natural self-regulation of a market economy driven by self-interest and efficiency
Term
Laissez-Faire
Definition
Policy in which there is little or no interference with exchange, trade, or market prices by the government
Term
Efficiency
Definition
A goal for economic systems to produce the most goods for the most people
Term
Equity
Definition
a goal for economic systems to distribute goods and rewards fairly
Term
Freedom
Definition
a goal for economic systems to preserve the liberty of the people
Term
Economic System
Definition
A society's structure for making and distributing goods and services
Term
Command System
Definition
An economic system in which the allocation of resources is heavily controlled by government instead of free market forces
Term
Efficient Economy
Definition
An economy in which all benefits are mximized to the point that one party cannot increase their benefits without decreasing the benefits of others.
Term
Alexis de Tocqueville
Definition
Frenchman who wrote Democracy in America, in which he explored the uniqueness of American character and its sources
Term
Scarcity
Definition
Economic condition where resources and supply cannot meet all demands, and therefore decisions must be made about which demands to meet
Term
Opportunity Cost
Definition
The value of the best alternative not chosen.
Term
Specialization
Definition
the economic practice of focusing resources on production of one or a few goods
Term
Law of comparative advantage
Definition
Economic principle in which producers specialize in the production of goods where they have the lowest opportunity cost.
Term
Perfect Competition
Definition
when buyers and sellers have no influence on price and terms of exchange
Term
Law of demand
Definition
as the price of a particular good or service rises, individuals will buy less of that good or service
Term
Law of Supply
Definition
As the price of a particular good or service rises, suppliers will produce more of that good or service
Term
Equilibrium Price
Definition
The price at which the quantity demanded is equal to the quantity supplied
Term
Role of Profits
Definition
In a market economy, as profits increase, the number of suppliers and resources for making that good will increase
Term
Role of Prices
Definition
In a market economy, prices determine the quantity of goods supplied
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