Study Guide for the Enlightenment/Absolutism Test

Format:

Part I.

Take home essay (see attached rubric) 20 points total

Part II. In Class Examination 40 points total

-Multiple Choice 15 points

-Matching 15 points

-Short definitions/vocab 15 points

Total Points: 60

People to Know:

Enlightenment Thinkers:

  • Thomas Hobbes
  • John Locke
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  • Baron de Montesquieu
  • Voltaire
  • Cesare Beccaria
  • Mary Wollstonecraft

Enlightened Despots “Enlightened Monarchs”

  • Catherine the Great
  • Joseph the II
  • Frederick the Great

Be familiar with:

  • The five core concepts of Enlightenment philosophes
  • What does it mean to be a philosophe?
  • What were some of the areas of government that the philosophes wanted to reform? Law and order, economy, religious toleration, end to serfdom, end to capital punishment, end to censorship
  • What is capital punishment?
  • What were the long lasting effects of the Enlightenment?
  • What weresalonsand what was their purpose in Enlightenment society?

Absolute Rulers

  • James I (England)
  • Charles I (England)
  • Peter the Great (Russia)
  • Catherine the Great (Russia)
  • Louis XIV (France)

Be familiar with:

  • What does it mean to be an absolute ruler?
  • What does divine right mean?
  • What did absolute rulers do to keep control in their kingdoms?
  • How did Louis XIV show off his wealth and power? (building Versailles)
  • How did Louis XIV opulent lifestyle contribute to public disapproval of the monarchy in France?
  • What did Peter the Great do for Russia and their place on the world stage?
  • Was it possible to be both Enlightened and an Absolute ruler?

Part I (Take Home Essay)- Enlightenment and Absolutism Test

*essays are due the day of the test; essays that are not handed in by the time of the test will receive a ZERO

I would prefer a paper copy of the essay, but please see me if there is an extenuating circumstance

Part I: 20 points Take Home Essay (1-2-pagemaximum) given time to work on it in class during one of the two days designated as “review days” for the test

Essay Prompt

  1. Compare and contrast the theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Possible topics to consider (but you may talk about others):
  • How does each theorist feel about human nature?
  • What type of government does each theorist advocate for?
  • What kind of impact did each theorist have on the formation of democracies like America?

You may reference your notes and the DBQ packet for this question. If you choose to quote sections of the DBQ packet, you can introduce the source by the author and title provided for that particular document. MAKE SURE YOU CITE SOURCES by introducing them.

5 points / 4 points / 3 points / 2 points / 1 point
Introduction / Essay is properly introduced and a clear thesis statement is included / Essay is properly introduced and a thesis statement is present / Introduction is included but thesis is unclear / Introduction is included, but has no thesis / No introduction is present
Spelling/ Grammar / Essay is pretty much free of errors / Essay contains minor errors / Essay contains multiple errors, but still understandable / Essay contains many errors that interfere with the understanding of the essay / Essay contains errors that make essay unable to to understood
Comparison / Student successful discusses most similarities and differences of the 3 theorists / Student discusses some similarities and differences between the theorists / Student discusses similarities or differences, but omits one or two of the theorists / Student discuses theorists, but interprets their ideas incorrectly / Student either interprets theorist’s ideas incorrectly, or does not discuss similarities or differences
Conclusion / Conclusion offers a thoughtful concluding statement that connects main themes of the essay / Conclusion discusses main points talked about in the essay / Conclusion is included but does not discuss main points of essay / Conclusion is inadequate in length and substance / No conclusion is provided

Rubric