The Enlightenment Activity

Explanation of Directions
Objective: Students will describe the ideas of the Enlightenment and their impact on the
modern age.

Context: The new ways of thinking developed during the Scientific Revolution began to
extend into other areas of life beyond science. Scholars and philosophers began to
rethink old ideas about religion, economics, and education. In France, these social
critics were known as philosophes. For the most part, they were not professional
philosophers, but rather self-appointed critics who believed that it was their duty to think
critically. These thinkers focused largely on questioning the role of
government, which during that period consisted mostly of absolute monarchies
(kings or queens with all the power). They also began to have more secular
(outside of religion) thoughts. Humanism greatly influenced this new way of
thinking.

Day 1 (Wednesday, May 13) Thomas Hobbes

Directions: During the Renaissance, people had different opinions about what rights
people were entitled to and the role that government played in providing those rights.
Use the resources provided to answer the questions and dig deeper into this debate.

1. What do you think are the 2 most important human rights that all people should
have and would most likely lead to a successful society? (i.e. freedom of speech,
religion, etc..)

In my opinion religion and equal gender rights are the two most important human
rights. They lead to a successful society because if everyone is able to practice their
own religion and women are treated equally then society can grow much easier than
without them.

Watch the Hobbes video and answer the following questions.

2. What event happened when Hobbes was 64 years old that greatly shaped his
thinking about people and about the role of government?
When Hobbes was 64 a civil war greatly shaped him to think in different ways from the British
government.
 3. What did Hobbes think people would do without a strong form of government?
Hobbes Believes that without a strong leader or government, people would begin violent
bickering or civil wars to prove their statements.

You’ve completed today’s part of the assignment. You can stop and
pick back up here tomorrow, or you can take a break and keep going!

Day 2 (Thursday, May 14) John Locke

Read the John Locke page then answer the questions.

4. What does tabula rasa mean?

A Tabula Rasa means a blank sheet of paper. John Locke’s book says that all humans are
born as an empty sheet of paper.

5. According to Locke, why do people learn and develop differently?

According to John Locke, people develop differently because every person is exposed to
different things and different challenges.

6. Which American leader especially admired Locke’s work and used his ideas
when creating the new American Democracy?

The founding father “Thomas Jefferson” really took Locke’s work into account when creating
the U.S. government.

You’ve completed today’s part of the assignment. You can stop and
pick back up here tomorrow, or you can take a break and keep going!

Day 3 (Friday, May 15) John Locke vs. Thomas Hobbes

 Directions: Using the reading Locke vs. Hobbes complete the chart.

John Locke Thomas Hobbes

According to this philosopher, John Locke believed that the start
what is true about human of your life is a blank sheet of paper
nature? and it has to be filled by life
experiences. He believed that they
were naturally good or bad based
on your life experience
Thomas Hobbs believed that
humans were naturally evil and
were easy to corrupt; and without
government the world would fall
into chaos.

According to this philosopher, John Locke believed that people Hobbes believed in social
what is true about an had natural rights to make their own contracts, this is where people
individual's natural rights? decisions and things like property give up some of their own rights to
and materials. ensure protection.
(Are people entitled to rights,
what are they?)

According to this philosopher, Locke believed that people needed Since Hobbes believed that
what was the purpose of the government to protect people's people were evil he believed that
government? natural rights using social contracts a government needed a strong
to prosurve human rights. central authority.

You’ve completed today’s part of the assignment. You can stop and
pick back up here on Monday, or you can take a break and keep
going!

Day 4 (Monday, May 18) More Enlightened Thinkers

Directions: Use the link to complete the organizer below. Hint: The Beliefs section of
the text will help you find the answers. You may use bullet points.

Name of Thinker 2 Facts About the Thinker

(this comes from the beliefs section of text)

Baron de Montesquieu ● Believed in restraining the power of the king.

● Came up with a form of branching the government
to prevent the possibility of a tyrant to rise.

Mary Wollstonecraft ● Fought for women's rights and their rights to a

 proper education.
● She fought for wives to be treated like equals and
equality in employment.

Benjamin Franklin ● Didn’t think that people in charge should have

income for their government services.
● Believed that slaverry was morally wrong.

Congratulations! You have completed the Enlightenment Activity. Be

sure to submit to schoology for a grade.