About This Lesson
The Age of Enlightenment spans the late 17th Century and into the early 19th Century, bringing new philosophies about life, individualism, society, and politics into discussion. The era emerged in Europe, but ideas journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean to enlighten the minds of British colonists. Ideals such as natural law, liberty, progress, constitutional government, and separation of church and state became byproducts of the workings of the great minds that lived during the Age of Enlightenment. This range of ideas and values sparked an outpouring of discussion, debate, and publication that set in motion the ideas that lead to revolutions and rebellions and a pursuit of individual and national liberty.
Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Knowledge
- Describe some of Age of Enlightenment philosophies, particularly social contract and liberty.
- Discuss some of the Enlightenment philosophers in Europe and America.
2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis
- Examine a primary source and track some of the Enlightenment themes in the document
3. Evaluation
- Evaluate the meaning of Enlightenment terms and how they were put into discussion and practice.
This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to NCSS and Common Core Standards.
This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.
