Development of Democracy Ideas

Directions: Use 3-5 minutes to double check this subject’s Power School for your class grade and work listings verifying that all work is caught up. Read and heed embedded messages. Next, research your part of the following topics and figure out answers to the questions. Write your questions and detailed answers on lined paper or your notebook paper. These questions and related answers are required to be handed in, once the class discussion is completed. You are expected to use the time completely, be through and become knowledgeable. Write down any puzzles you have related to the material on your paper and bring them up during the class discussion. Warning: If you are found to be using your research time for other things, it will hurt your learning and grade. If you think or claim to be done, you are not! Once your assigned part is ready, then help others on your team or study the test resources from Mr. Spitzer’s web page for the upcoming test. No games, non-topic talk or other activities allowed during research time. The class will research as much as time allows before team sharing and whole class discussion. Since there is always more to learn, Mr. Spitzer encourages you to look into this topic more on your own time. Your class work grade includes: 1. Entire use of time while researching. 2. Answer questions & pay attention during team sharing. 3. Paying attention & participate during class discussion. 4. Turning in your readable questions & notes. Team members who do not do their share, provide hasty sloppy answers, disrupt others and use time ineffectivelyin the four grade aspects will be removed from the team and required to write out and turn in all answers on their own for the grade.

Topics to Research

Questions to be able to discuss

  1. What is the Enlightenment? Why was there an intellectual drive to understand and improve society? What are the terms and centuries historians use to describe this time period of change toward democracy and establishment of science?
  2. Who are the philosophesand how did they view human nature? How did the scientific revolution influence their views? In general, what were their goals for society? How did the philosophes ideas reflect the values of Judaism and Christianity yet differ related to the perfection of individuals?
  3. Who was John Locke? What were his beliefs about progress, human nature and education? What were Locke’s ideas about government? What was Locke’s social contract theory? How did it tend to encourage revolution? How did he influence government? Recite several quotes from his Google brief biography.
  4. Who was Montesquieu? (Charles-Louis de Secondat Baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu) What were his ideas related to absolute monarchy? Explain the ways Montesquieu proposed individual freedom could be protected from royal absolutism. How did Montesquieu influence the U.S. Constitution? Recite several quotes from his Google brief biography.
  5. Who was Voltaire? (Francois-Marie Arouet) What is deism? How did Voltaire reflect the Age of Reason in his religious beliefs and in his attacks on intolerance? Recite several quotes from his Google brief biography.
  6. Who was Rousseau? (Jean-Jacques Rousseau) What were Rousseau’s ideas related to the “state of nature” and “noble savages” social contract, and “General Will?” How did Rousseau influence education and government? Recite several quotes from his Google brief biography.
  7. Who was Denis Diderot? What was his contribution to the Enlightenment? How influential was his Encyclopedie? Recite several quotes from his Google brief biography.
  8. Explain concrete reforms to human well-being made during the Enlightenment. Include reforms to religious liberty, public health, care of the sick & insane, prison reform (John Howard’s efforts), and education reform.

Critical Thinking

  1. Why do you think the philosophes might have been particularly interested in the thought and arts of ancient Greece and Rome? How might an earlier culture be useful to a society in transition?
  2. Do you think that the ideas of the philosophers are a good source for understanding this revolutionary time period in world history? Why?
  3. In keeping with Rousseau’s idea, how might you describe the General Will of the United States at the present time?
  4. Upon what basis could Montesquieu be considered an honorary citizen of the United States? Justify your answer.
  5. The philosophy of the 18th century is often called the Enlightenment. In what ways were philosophes enlightened? Justify with specific people and ideas.
  6. During the 18th century, organized religion was under attack. How does an understanding of the Age of Reason help explain this situation? Explain.
  7. How successful were the 18th century philosophers in applying scientific method to the study of society as a whole? Support your answer with reasons and examples.