iCivics
Why Government?
Why do people create governments? Where did we get our ideas about government? This is a fantastic introductory instructional activity for your American government class that begins by reviewing the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John...
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Why Do Governments Exist? Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Rousseau
Here is a great secondary source reading that includes the primary ideas and philosophies of the famed Enlightenment philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In additional to discussing...
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Ideas of John Locke
In this life, liberty, and property worksheet, students read about the influences of John Locke and then write a short story on the back of the page. Students write about how life, liberty, and property have influenced them and their...
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How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom
Students recognize that our legal-political system hasdeveloped through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models. They apply John Locke's views to the development of U.S. political theory and systems.
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The Enlightenment in Europe: Ch 22
Why study European Enlightenment? Because our governing forefathers and constitution were shaped by their words and philosophies. Presented here are facts and achievements of 8 different figures from the enlightened era. Also included is...
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Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government
For this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government.
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19c European Liberalism
If you'd like to prompt some great discussions in your history class, this presentation will surely get your class talking. Addressing 19th century liberalism in Europe (including influences from England, France, America, and Ireland),...
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Locke v. Hobbes
In this Hobbes and Locke study guide worksheet, high schoolers respond to 18 short answer questions. The questions correlate to assigned readings in a textbook.
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The Enlightenment: Matching Activity 4
Just finished reading about the 17th century and the period of Enlightenment? Use this helpful activity that covers the people and events your class has just read about. Learners can use this resource to match ten different Enlightenment...
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Unit 12: Enlightenment and French Revolution
In this Enlightenment lesson, students respond to 34 short answer questions about John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and Mary Wollstonecraft.
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Quotes by Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire
In Enlightenment quotations study guide worksheet, students read quotations and identify the speakers as Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Peter the Great, Copernicus, Louis XIV, Galileo, Harvey, Kepler , Frederick the Great, or...
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The Visions of Locke and Hobbes
In this visions of Locke and Hobbes study guide worksheet, pupils read the notes provided regarding government and add notes of their own.
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Why do we need a Government
Learners explore some of the ideas of major importance to the Founders, why we need a government, and how the Founders believed governments should be created and what they should do. They think of a right that all people should have and...
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How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?
High schoolers explain why a government with a constitution is not necessarily a constitutional government, and identify alternative models of government that the Founders had to choose from.
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Creating the Constitution
Useful as a review assignment or as a quiz, these ten questions on the U.S. Constitution address its creation. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin are the main topics of the questions, as well as The Three-Fifths Compromise.
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Locke, Rousseau, the "State of Nature," and the Social Compact
In this Enlightenment worksheet, students read a paragraph and visit the noted Web sites to find the information to respond to 10 short answer questions about the philosophy and philosophers of the era.
Digital History
The Age of Constitution Writing
Was the United States significantly more democratic in their governing structures and laws after the overthrow of British authorities? Compare and contrast summaries of the country's constitutions under British rule and after...
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Separation of Powers
Eighth graders explore and explain the responsibilities and limits of our national system of government. After reading various selections documenting the viewpoints of the federalists and anti-federalists and the separation of power,...
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How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom
Students recognize that our legal-political system has developed through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models.
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Politics and Leadership
Students research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
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Age of Enlightenment
Studnets compare example of primary documents that have shaped U.S. government and our Constitution.
Constitution Facts
U.S. Constitution Crossword Puzzles: Advanced #1
What do Boston Harbor, the Electoral College, and Chief Powhatan have in common? They all represent vital moments in American history—and they are all clues in a thorough and challenging crossword puzzle about the United States...
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American Revolution and Constitution Take Home Assessment
In this early American history worksheet, students create posters that feature the branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution. Students also research founding ideals of the nation and use Venn diagrams to compare and...
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American Revolution and Constitution Take-Home Assessment
In this early American history instructional activity, students draw diagrams of that feature the responsibilities of each of the 3 branches of the federal government and then create their own original visuals that highlight the...