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...
Curated OER
The Social Contract
In this online interactive history learning exercise, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about The Social Contract by Rosseau. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive learning...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Locke v. Hobbes
In this Hobbes and Locke study guide worksheet, students respond to 18 short answer questions. The questions correlate to assigned readings in a textbook.
Curated OER
Locke and Hobbes
In this Hobbes's Social Contract and Locke’s Natural Rights study guide worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer regarding each man's vision.
Curated OER
Four Enlightenment Thinkers
Students examine lives, philosophies, and political beliefs of four Enlightenment Thinkers: Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. Students then work with partner to write short speech from...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
The Noble Savage - The Social Contract Rights and Freedoms of Modern Humanity
Pupils, in groups, research various philosophers and the historical context of their work. They discuss the necessity and interaction of laws, regulations and human freedoms and consider the importance of the Canadian government to its...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s
In this people of the Enlightenment study guide worksheet, students read the notes provided regarding Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire.
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.
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.
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Thomas Hobbes
This site from The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides a comprehensive survey of the life and philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. It discusses his writings as well as his ideas on moral and political philosophy.
Other
Modern Political Theory
This site contains a question and answer format on the theories of Locke and Hobbes. It answers questions about the political system and social contract, as well as theorizing about the state of nature and rights of man.
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'...
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.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: Hobbes vs Locke
This PowerPoint with help your students see the difference in the philosophies of Hobbs vs Locke. Also explained is how those philosophies influenced England.
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...