iCivics
Why Government?
Why do people create governments? Where did we get our ideas about government? This is a fantastic introductory lesson for your American government class that begins by reviewing the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in...
Other
The Road to Revolution
This is a site for a 14-day United States History unit on the events leading up to the American Revolution. The point of this unit is to help students form an understanding of events by using multiple primary accounts (teaching...
Oregon State University
Thomas Hobbes
This site provides a short biography, and some links to relevant sites.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Enlightenment Ideas and the Founding Fathers
A tutorial that looks at the ideas from the Enlightenment that influenced the Founding Fathers, particularly those of John Locke and Montesquieu. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Other
Pre History of Cognitive Science: Thomas Hobbes
This article analyzes the philosophy contained in such works as "Leviathan." A good starting point for research on Hobbesian philosophy.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: John Locke on Government
This site from the University of Groningen provides the complete John Locke's "Second Treatise on Government." It discusses everything from slavery and property to civil government and its functions.
Boston University
Boston University: The Social Contract Tradition
This site presents an abstract of the social contract tradition. It also contains a very detailed overview of the ideas of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
Digital History
Digital History: By What Right [Pdf]
Two opposing philosophies concerning the relationship between government and its citizens were expressed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in the 17th century. Compare these two philosophies and see how they were related to the colonists'...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Two Treatisies on Government
This site provides selections from John Locke's "Two Treatisies on Government." It contains evaluations on the sections 'Of the State of Nature' and 'Of Political of Civil Society.'
Rice University
Galileo Project: Thomas Hobbes
This site from The Galileo Project of Rice University presents Hobbes' life in an outline, giving easy access to the critical information. This is a great site to check out for information on the subject.
Steven Kreis, PhD
The History Guide: Jean Jacque Rousseau, 1712 1778
A good biography of French Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, his philosophical writings and his influential idea of a 'Social Contract' between people and their ruler.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Justification for the State
From Wikipedia, this article outlines the purpose of government and explains how disagreement over purpose can splinter into various movements such as socialism, fascism, and communism. Includes links to further explanations of different...
Quia
Quia: Building of the Constitution
Quiz yourself on how well you know the events leading up to writing the United States Constitution.
Other
A Civic Framework for Community
A framework for discussing what it means to be a community, based on the principles in the Declaration of Independence and on the values Americans hold dear that form the basis of successful communities.
Oregon State University
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes'
This site provides an e-text of the Leviathan, written by Thomas Hobbes.
PBS
Pbs: Rediscovering George Washington
Discussion lesson plan that introduces and examines the concept of government by consent of the governed. Includes a reading for class distribution and references to primary source documents.
University of Notre Dame
Und: Updating Moral Development Theory [Pdf]
Surveys Kohlberg's theory of the stages of moral development. Has an outline of the stages and a description of each.
iCivics
I Civics: John Locke Mini Lesson
Introduce learners to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
iCivics
I Civics: Thomas Hobbes Mini Lesson
Thomas Hobbes was one of the first of his era to discuss the idea of the social contract. Explore his views on government and his famous book, Leviathan.
iCivics
I Civics: The Enlightenment Mini Lesson
The Enlightenment was a period of time, starting around 1715, when people developed new ideas about human existence, including people's basic rights and the purpose of government. When our Founding Fathers created a government for the...
iCivics
I Civics: Why Government?
Dig into philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke's ideas and see how they've influenced those that have followed in their footsteps.
Columbia University
Columbia University: John Locke: Of the Conduct of the Understanding
A complete biography of the philosopher John Locke. It discusses his contribution to philosophy and his social contract.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Jean Jacques Rousseau
This biographical sketch makes use of quotations from Rousseau's works. Provides a bibliography of his work as well.
Robin Chew
Lucid Cafe: Jean Jacques Rousseau
A good biography mostly on Rousseau's political philosophy of "The Social Contract"