Influential Figures & Political Concepts: A Concise Guide
Influential Figures in History and Politics
Philosophers and Political Thinkers
Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher who witnessed the English Civil War. He advocated for strong government and believed that humans are inherently selfish.
John Locke
Argued that all people, regardless of differences, share the same natural rights: life, liberty, and protection by the government. He supported government but believed people agree to support it in return for protection.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, he believed that all people are essentially good but are made unhappy and corrupted by their experiences in society.
Adam Smith
A Scottish social philosopher and pioneer of political economy. He authored The Wealth of Nations, considered the first modern work of economics and one of the most influential works on the subject ever published.
John Maynard Keynes
British economist whose ideas have profoundly influenced modern macroeconomics.
Political Leaders and Activists
Thomas Jefferson
The 3rd President of the USA. He drafted the Declaration of Independence and believed that government should be an instrument of the people, created to ensure their unalienable rights, including the right to life.
Nelson Mandela
An activist who fought against apartheid in South Africa. Arrested in 1963 and released in 1990, he became the first fully democratically elected president of South Africa, serving from 1994 to 1999. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Lord Durham (John Lambton)
The 1st Earl of Durham, he was sent to North America to investigate issues between Upper and Lower Canada. He was the first to propose a responsible government and the union of Upper and Lower Canada.
George Brown
A Scottish-Canadian journalist, politician, and one of the Fathers of Confederation. He founded the Toronto Globe, which later merged into The Globe and Mail. He also helped found the Anti-Slavery Society in Canada.
Sir John A. Macdonald
The first Prime Minister of Canada, serving for 19 years. He was a key figure in Confederation.
Rosa Parks
An African-American civil rights activist, often referred to as “The First Lady of Civil Rights.” In 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A clergyman, activist, and prominent leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He led the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 and delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963. He was assassinated in 1968.
Norman Bethune
Studied medicine in Toronto and was a veteran of World War I. He became critical of authority figures and the medical field, becoming a communist in 1938 and fighting in the Spanish Civil War.
Mother Teresa
At the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, who ran missions in Calcutta, India. She dedicated her life to helping the poor and destitute.
Terry Fox
At the age of 19, he ran over 5,000 kilometers across Canada in 1980, raising millions of dollars for cancer research. He died in 1981.
Kim Campbell
A politician, writer, lawyer, and university professor. She served as Canada’s first female Prime Minister but held the office for the shortest term (132 days). She was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.
Nellie McClung
In 1911, she joined a group known as “The Famous Five,” dedicated to improving the social conditions of women and winning them the right to vote. In 1918, the Canadian federal government granted women the right to vote.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau
The 15th Prime Minister of Canada, known for his charisma. He successfully patriated the Canadian Constitution in 1982.
Barack Obama
The first African-American President of the USA, serving two terms.
David Suzuki
A renowned scientist, broadcaster, and environmental activist.
Key Political Concepts
Civics
The study of government, states, and other political units.
Anarchy
An absence of government (e.g., historically in Somalia).
Dictatorship
A form of government where the leader holds absolute power over the state, unrestricted by law.
Monarchy
A government ruled by a hereditary head of state.
Socialism
A political theory advocating state ownership of industry and its operation for the benefit of the community as a whole.
Theocracy
A form of government where God is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, often through religious leaders.
Communism
A system advocating state ownership of land and property.
Confederation
An act where provinces or states unite for common purposes.
Magna Carta
A historical document that established the principle that the king was subject to the law, not above it.
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
A part of the Canadian Constitution that guarantees the political and civil rights of every Canadian.
Levels of Government in Canada
Federal
The Canadian federal government consists of government departments, organizations, and agencies. The Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, directs the federal government by determining priorities and policies and ensuring their implementation.
Provincial
Provincial governments are responsible for areas listed in the Constitution Act, 1867, such as education, health care, some natural resources, and road regulations. Sometimes they share responsibility with the federal government.
Municipal
This is the level of government that is usually based in a city, town, or district. They are responsible for services such as libraries, parks, community water systems, local police, roadways, and parking. They receive authority for these areas from the provincial governments.
International Organizations and Concepts
United Nations (UN)
A worldwide organization devoted to establishing world peace and promoting economic and social welfare.
Apartheid
A system of segregation or discrimination on the grounds of race and ethnicity.
Political Cartoons
Illustrations designed to express social or political messages, often found on the editorial pages of newspapers and magazines. Sometimes they appear in the comic sections or as standalone illustrations.