Unit Title: Absolutism and Enlightenment
Course Title: 7th Social Studies
Pacing: 8 Days
Content Standards: K-12 Vertical Alignment
H.1-Use historical thinking to analyze various modern societies.
Understandings
Students will understand that…
Essential Questions
Knowledge
Students will know…
Individuals & Key Terms: Absolute Monarchy, Absolutism Divine Right of Kings, The Enlightenment,The Social Contract, Consent of the Governed, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu , King Louis XVI, Voltaire
How did the Absolute Monarchs view the Enlightenment proponents
Absolutism is the principle of complete and unrestricted government power, usually in the hands of one person, a dictator or despot.
Absolute Monarchy is a king or queen who rules over an entire nation.
Since the Middle Ages, European leaders had gained power through heredity, or family ties. Kings and queens took the throne after another family member died. The people had no say in this process.
A Constitutional Monarchy is a form of government in which a Parliament makes all of the laws and the King and Queen serve a primarily symbolic role and have no power to govern.
The Divine Right of Kings meant that Kings derived their authority from God and could not be held accountable for their actions by an earthly authority such as government or parliament.
The Enlightenment has been defined as a philosophical, intellectual and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Historical Figures Political Thought
Thomas Hobbes- the nature of society (all men are brutish). Idea that men must forfeit some personal freedoms for the benefit of having a strong ruler who maintains a peaceful and orderly society
John Locke – Blank slate theory, natural rights and the idea that man has the right to overthrow a ruler who does not protect those rights
Montesquieu – separation of government, checks and balances
Rousseau's – Noble Savage, ideas on education, social contract, the
Natural Rights-Enlightenment thinkers believed that human beings are born with fundamental, basic rights. (life, liberty, property, and the freedom to find happiness).
The Social Contract- citizens give up some freedom they would have in a state of nature (like the freedom to rob and kill people), and in exchange the government protects citizens’ right to life, liberty, and property.
Consent of the Governed is when governments had a responsibility to hold up their end of the social contract. If a government failed, then citizens would no longer agree to be governed and they would have the right to revolt.
Influence on America: When our Founding Fathers created a government for the new United States, they embraced many Enlightenment ideas. America’s Constitution recognized that citizens were born with basic rights. And even though some of the Founders agreed with those concerned about democracy, the Constitution gave citizens the power to vote. The Enlightenment ended around 1789, about the same time the Constitution was born.
Skills
Students will be able to…
Analyze (to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements)
Course Title: 7th Social Studies
Pacing: 8 Days
Content Standards: K-12 Vertical Alignment
H.1-Use historical thinking to analyze various modern societies.
- H.1.3 - Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives.
- C&G.1.1- Summarize the ideas that have shaped political thought in various societies and regions (e.g. Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution, democracy, communism and socialism).
- C&G.1.4- Compare the sources of power and governmental authority in various societies (e.g. monarchs, dictators, elected officials, anti-governmental groups and religious, political factions).
Understandings
Students will understand that…
- Philosophical writings demonstrate a variety of opinions in their message about the most effective structure for government and society.
- Absolutism was challenged by new political thought in Europe during the Enlightenment.
- Enlightenment thought presented a variety of perspectives on the source of government power shifting from the absolute authority from god to the power of the common man.
Essential Questions
- Why is it so difficult to determine and maintain the most effective systems of government?
- Why did the end of Absolute Monarch rule led to so many wars?
- What are the fundamental differences between "Absolutism" and "Enlightenment?"
- How did the Absolute Monarchs view the Enlightenment proponents?
Knowledge
Students will know…
Individuals & Key Terms: Absolute Monarchy, Absolutism Divine Right of Kings, The Enlightenment,The Social Contract, Consent of the Governed, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu , King Louis XVI, Voltaire
How did the Absolute Monarchs view the Enlightenment proponents
Absolutism is the principle of complete and unrestricted government power, usually in the hands of one person, a dictator or despot.
Absolute Monarchy is a king or queen who rules over an entire nation.
Since the Middle Ages, European leaders had gained power through heredity, or family ties. Kings and queens took the throne after another family member died. The people had no say in this process.
A Constitutional Monarchy is a form of government in which a Parliament makes all of the laws and the King and Queen serve a primarily symbolic role and have no power to govern.
The Divine Right of Kings meant that Kings derived their authority from God and could not be held accountable for their actions by an earthly authority such as government or parliament.
The Enlightenment has been defined as a philosophical, intellectual and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Historical Figures Political Thought
Thomas Hobbes- the nature of society (all men are brutish). Idea that men must forfeit some personal freedoms for the benefit of having a strong ruler who maintains a peaceful and orderly society
John Locke – Blank slate theory, natural rights and the idea that man has the right to overthrow a ruler who does not protect those rights
Montesquieu – separation of government, checks and balances
Rousseau's – Noble Savage, ideas on education, social contract, the
Natural Rights-Enlightenment thinkers believed that human beings are born with fundamental, basic rights. (life, liberty, property, and the freedom to find happiness).
The Social Contract- citizens give up some freedom they would have in a state of nature (like the freedom to rob and kill people), and in exchange the government protects citizens’ right to life, liberty, and property.
Consent of the Governed is when governments had a responsibility to hold up their end of the social contract. If a government failed, then citizens would no longer agree to be governed and they would have the right to revolt.
Influence on America: When our Founding Fathers created a government for the new United States, they embraced many Enlightenment ideas. America’s Constitution recognized that citizens were born with basic rights. And even though some of the Founders agreed with those concerned about democracy, the Constitution gave citizens the power to vote. The Enlightenment ended around 1789, about the same time the Constitution was born.
Skills
Students will be able to…
Analyze (to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements)
- Determine (to settle or decide by choice of alternatives or possibilities)
- the positive and negative effects of a absolute monarchy.
- which enlightenment philosopher ideals provided the most success for citizens
- the political ideals of each of the enlightenment thinkers.
- the positive and negative effects of the enlightenment ideals on current government structures.
- the impact the Enlightenment ideals will have on future government structures and citizens.
- the aspects of enlightenment thinking that promotes citizen involvement