Washington/Hobbes
The Constitution
Washington/Hobbes
Contrary to popular belief, George Washington did not influence the Constitution as much as he was given credit for. He saw the document from its conception to its passing, however his role was more like that of an overseer rather than a writer or founder. He was among the first men to recognize the flaws with the Articles of Confederation. Also, his experience in the Revolutionary War gave him the knowledge to know how power and rights should have been divided/sorted. He knew that the government should not have all the power placed in its hands. He knew from experience with Britain and from understanding human nature; that people can never be trusted to be in complete charge without becoming tyrannical and power hungry.
Unlike George Washington, Thomas Hobbes was not appreciated much at all for his political ideas and beliefs. He was questioned and challenged by many other politicians and superiors who thought his beliefs on governmental ideals and restrictions were outrageous, and that his idea of the government serving and protecting the people, and the government "acting with the consent of the governed" was unrealistic. However, he is now studied, respected and revered by many people in the political science field, and his governmental influence on the constitution is seen as one of the most important contributions to the document.
The Constitution/The Bill of Rights
Simmilarities
There is often question of how much influence the English Bill of Rights had on the US Constitution. There are some exact borrowings from the Bill of Rights which are seen on the Constitution. One of these is the right for weapons. The Bill of Rights states that "Subjects may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law." And of course, the constitution has "The right to bear arms." Another similarity is the law for freedom of speech. This is most famously the first amendment, but it was originally derived from the Bill of Rights under "That the freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in parliament, ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of parliament." There are other similarities between the two documents such as, trial by jury, due process, no cruel punishment, and no excessive bail or fines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&edufilter=TkZEbkhj6lafXjw2-aQZcw&v=zBVQLf20-Y8