Students are given scenarios from history and present day.  Students then respond to the scenario with how an Enlightenment philosopher would respond.  This lesson could be adapted for lower level students by making the answer choices with statements students could mark as true or false.  Higher level students could be given additional Enlightenment philosophers to respond to and/or create a present-day scenario from an Enlightenment philosopher's perspective.  

Access to the document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ai_4Li-Q1jmR7h9u-l7TmyJrTRGLBoU4vME-8v5DGEk/edit?usp=sharing

Enlightenment Thinkers Respond

Read the following situations and then write how the listed Enlightenment thinkers would respond.  

FOR EXAMPLE: William & Mary become the new rulers of Britain after the Glorious Revolution.  They set up a constitutional monarchy where Parliament is supreme. How would these Enlightenment thinkers respond to the Glorious Revolution?

• Thomas Hobbes - well this sounds like a horrible idea, we know that people are naturally evil and they need an absolute monarchy to keep them in check
• John Locke - I love it!  Finally the people of Britain get to have a say.  We can ensure that our natural rights are protected
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau - The people were right to do this, the social contract was broken and now they have established a government where the people are sovereign. 
• Baron de Montesquieu - sounds great if there is a separation of powers between the branches of government

British monarch Charles I abuses his power, disbands Parliament and starts the English Civil War.  How would these Enlightenment thinkers respond to the English Civil War?

John Locke - 

Thomas Hobbes - 

American colonists revolt against the British and demand that they have their independence and want to set up a legislative government.  How would these Enlightenment thinkers respond to the American Revolution?

John Locke - 

Thomas Hobbes - 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau - 

Peter the Great ruled Russia as an absolute monarch.  They were not a democracy, but he kept order and worked to westernize Russia by building the great city of St. Petersburg and gaining a warm water port.  How would Enlightenment thinkers respond to Peter’s rule?

Thomas Hobbes - 

John Locke - 

Westboro Baptist protests outside of military funerals using hate speech to proclaim that God hates homosexuals.  They also protest against the military, Muslims, Jews, American soldiers and politicians. They live in America and continually use what is considered to be hate speech.  How would these Enlightenment thinkers respond to Westboro Baptist’s actions?

Voltaire - 

In 2011 the Egyptian people became part of the Arab Spring when they decided they could no longer had the rule of their president, Hosni Mubarak.  President Mubarak had ruled Egypt for 30 years and was considered by most to be a tyrant. They protested for 18 days with marches, non-violent resistance, and civil disobedience.  Protesters took over the capital city of Cairo and finally overthrew President Mubarak. They then worked to put in a democratically elected leader. How would these Enlightenment thinkers respond to the Arab Spring in Egypt?

Thomas Hobbes - 

John Locke -