Name:______Block:______

Enlightenment Thinkers

Introduction

The Enlightenment took place in Europe and America during the eighteenth century. The main ideas were centered on reason as the basis of authority. Many of the main characters of the Enlightenment wrote works that were used in the creation of governments and governmental documents. Enlightenment thinkers wrote about politics, church and state issues, natural philosophy, ethics, logic, and science.

Task

The students will use the resources provided in order to learn about the Enlightenment thinkers. Each individual will be assigned one Enlightenment thinker. The students will be responsible for researching the background, accomplishments, quotes, outcomes, and influences of their assigned Enlightenment thinker. Students will then create a research paper and brief power point presentation on the information they have learned.

Process

1.)Students will be assigned one of the Enlightened thinkers to research. They will be responsible for conducting research in class, and at home. Students will be required to make and submit at least 20 note cards and an outline on their research:

  • John Locke
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • Algernon Sidney
  • Jean Jacques Rousseau,
  • Edward Coke
  • Montesquieu
  • Machiavelli
  • Denis Diderot
  • Rene Descartes
  • Galileo Galilee
  • Copernicus
  • Sir Isaac Newton
  • Voltaire

2) The student should follow these questions while conducting his or her research:

I. Introduction

A. Which Enlightened thinker will you be researching

B. What are they most known for?

C. How are they an example of an “Enlightened thinker?”

II. Define the Enlightenment

  1. What is it?
  2. When did it occur?

III. Brief Biography of your thinker

  1. When was the person born, when did they die?
  2. What type of family did they come from?
  3. What type of schooling did they have?
  4. Who influenced them?

IV. What is your Enlightened Thinker known for?

  1. What contribution did they make for the Enlightenment?

V. What lasting effect did your thinker’s work have on society/government/ science

VI. Conclusion

3) Students will use their information, note cards, and outline to create research paper of their thinker.

4) Students must add a works-cited page to list all sources of information provided in their papers, and submit at least 20 note cards and an outline with their final paper.

Resources:

John Locke

Thomas Hobbes

Algernon Sidney

Jean – Jacques Rousseau

Edward Coke

Montesquieu


Machiavelli

Denis Diderot

Rene Descartes

Voltaire

Galileo Galilee

Copernicus

Sir Isaac Newton