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S

slavery

A system of forced labor.

Slavic

Ethnic group of indo-European descent which includes Russians, Bulgarians, and Poles.

smallpox

A highly contagious disease. Symptoms include high fever and scar-producing blisters. It can be fatal.

Smith, Adam

(1723-1790) British philosopher, writer, and economist. His book, The Wealth of Nations, describes his theory on free trade, otherwise known as laissez-faire economics.

social class

A group of people within a society who share the same social, political, and economic status.

social contract

Theory of Thomas Hobbes that states the people form a social contract with government where they give up all rights for protection from other citizens.

Social Contract, The

French philosopher Jean Jaques Rousseau's book in which he wrote that people were basically good, and that society, and its unequal distribution of wealth, were the cause of most problems. Rousseau believed that government should be run according to the will of the majority, which he called the General Will. He claimed that the General Will would always act in the best interest of the people.

Social Darwinism

A social theory which states that the level a person rises to in society and wealth is determined by their genetic background.

social rights

Rights such as freedom of expression, education

socialism

A political system where the means of production are controlled by the workers and all things are shared evenly. Socialist policies provide for government funding of many basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care.


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