Enlightenment Salon – due BLOCK 10/23-24 AP European History
For this in-class discussion you and a partner will be assigned the role of a character from the period of the Enlightenment in Europe. Please follow the directions below to ensure successful completion of this assignment on Block Day October 23rd-24th
Characters:
Rene Descartes Baron de Montesquieu Mary Wollstonecraft
Frederick (II)The Great (Prussia) Voltaire Jean Jacques Rousseau
Beccaria Isaac Newton Adam Smith
Denis Diderot David Hume
John Locke Joseph II of Austria
Assignment:
As a historical character you will be asked to participate in a “Salon” and discuss the important matters of the day. You are expected to be able to answer the following questions from the perspective of your character. However, not all of the questions listed below will pertain directly to your character but you can make an educated guess as to their feelings and ideas on topics based on your research.
Topics for Salon
1. Are people born good or evil? Or are they shaped instead by their environment or by choices they make.
2. If society corrupts individuals, then how can we prevent that from happening?
3. Should we trust that what the church says is the absolute truth? Should secular or religious values drive our decisions? Our behavior?
4. Is government a positive good, a necessary evil, or an abomination? Are people capable of governing themselves?
5. Should the Enlightenment movement support monarchy or democracy?
6. What is the role of individuals in their government? Do people have natural rights?
7. What should our positions be toward capital punishment? Toward torture?
8. What is the appropriate relationship between church and state?
9. What should the role of women be in society?
10. What should be the relationship of government toward the economy?
11. What is necessary for a society to progress?
12. Can slavery exist in an enlightened society?
13. Is society, given what we have seen and learned, capable of progress, and if so, how?
Are things destined to get better as society becomes more modern? More secular?
14. What is Enlightenment, really? Can one be religious and enlightened? What does it truly mean to be an enlightened citizen? Can ordinary persons from the middle and lower classes, including peasantry, be capable of enlightenment?
What To Turn In: BIO SHEET (“Cheat Sheet”) OF CHARACTER DUE: Tuesday 10/22
A one-page summary of who your character is and what his or her basic beliefs are. Consider this a “cheat sheet” for your character and can be done in outline form or bullet style.
INCLUDE:
- Full name and nickname as the title with a summative/significant quote
- Country of birth and years of significant work.
- Major works/titles
- Basic summary of each of the following:
1. Views on human nature and society
2. Views on effective political systems and laws
3. Views on other areas of significance: religion/equality/economics
- Who enjoyed their work? Who did their work influence?
How You Will Be Graded
1/3 of grade is based on your one page summary of your character
· 2/3 of your grade is based on your participation on the day of the Salon….I will be looking for the following points during the discussion:
· Ability to stay in character and correct use of character’s point of view
· Use of relevant information
· Contributing to the discussion in a positive manner by building off of other’s ideas
· Ability to allow others to speak and not dominating the conversation
Cheat Sheet: 4 points
Salon Participation: 8 points