Introduction
Ever wonder where our Founding Fathers dreamed up some of the ideas for our government? Actually, these ideas were not new. They had been proposed, and debated long before Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Contemporary thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesqueiu put forth theories about man and his relationship to each other as well as the role government plays in that process.
Procedure
Understanding the mindset of the Founding Fathers means delving into the writings of Enlightenment thinkers. We will look at excerpts from these classic books and essays to find the major points and how these thoughts shaped the framework of our own democracy. Many of these Enlightenment thinkers lived in dangerous times. Their ideas were often contrary to accepted beliefs. It will the necessary to look at the history of the times to see how these ideas emerged.
We will read biographies of many of the people who had a profound influence on our Founding Fathers. We will also explore documents that forced changes upon the rigid structure of the English monarch in favor of a prescribed set of rights for individuals. We will conclude with an analysis of our own Declaration of Independence.
Resources
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
We will have quizzes on each of these philosophers and on the components of the Declaration of Independence
State Standards included:
CIVICS STANDARD TWO 6-8d: Students will understand the principles and content of major American state papers such as the Declaration of Independence; United States Constitution (including the Bill of Rights); and the Federalist Papers
HISTORY STANDARD FOUR 6-8: Students will develop an understanding of ancient and medieval world history, and the continuing influence of major civilizations, including:
-- The beginnings of human society
-- Early civilizations and pastoral peoples (4,000-1,000 BC)
-- Classical traditions, major religions, and great empires (1,000 BC--300 AD)
-- Expanding zones of exchange and encounter (300-1,000 AD)
-- Intensified hemispheric interactions (1,000-1,500 AD)
Ever wonder where our Founding Fathers dreamed up some of the ideas for our government? Actually, these ideas were not new. They had been proposed, and debated long before Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Contemporary thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesqueiu put forth theories about man and his relationship to each other as well as the role government plays in that process.
Procedure
Understanding the mindset of the Founding Fathers means delving into the writings of Enlightenment thinkers. We will look at excerpts from these classic books and essays to find the major points and how these thoughts shaped the framework of our own democracy. Many of these Enlightenment thinkers lived in dangerous times. Their ideas were often contrary to accepted beliefs. It will the necessary to look at the history of the times to see how these ideas emerged.
We will read biographies of many of the people who had a profound influence on our Founding Fathers. We will also explore documents that forced changes upon the rigid structure of the English monarch in favor of a prescribed set of rights for individuals. We will conclude with an analysis of our own Declaration of Independence.
Resources
- Primary sources:
- The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
- The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
- The Social Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Second Treatise on Civil Goverment by John Locke
- The Spirit of the Laws by Baron Montesquieu
- The Magna Carta
- The Petition of Right
- The English Bill of Rights
- The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson
- "Niccolo Machiavelli" biography (reading)
- Excerpts from The Prince (reading)
- "Thomas Hobbes biography" (reading)
- "John Locke" biography (reading)
- "Baron Montesquieu" biography (reading)
- "Social Contract Analysis" (reading)
- "The Age of Enlightenment" (reading)
- "Enlightenment Effect on Government" (reading)
- "The Right of Petition" (reading)
- "The English Bill of Rights" (reading)
- Video: Machiavelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPiF0HOPBbc
- Video: "Too Late to Apologize" (youtube)
- Powerpoint: Kissing Frogs
- Powerpoint: Creating a Monster
- Powerpoint: Connect the Docs
- Powerpoint: Let There Be Light
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- identify the characteristics that Machiavelli argued would make a good leader,
- explain Hobbes' position on the "State of Nature,"
- contrast Hobbes' ideas about many with Locke's theories,
- define the notion of the "social contract" as put forth by Rousseau,
- locate key phrases of the Declaration of Independence that were a result of theories from Locke and Montesquieu
We will have quizzes on each of these philosophers and on the components of the Declaration of Independence
State Standards included:
CIVICS STANDARD TWO 6-8d: Students will understand the principles and content of major American state papers such as the Declaration of Independence; United States Constitution (including the Bill of Rights); and the Federalist Papers
HISTORY STANDARD FOUR 6-8: Students will develop an understanding of ancient and medieval world history, and the continuing influence of major civilizations, including:
-- The beginnings of human society
-- Early civilizations and pastoral peoples (4,000-1,000 BC)
-- Classical traditions, major religions, and great empires (1,000 BC--300 AD)
-- Expanding zones of exchange and encounter (300-1,000 AD)
-- Intensified hemispheric interactions (1,000-1,500 AD)