Download The Enlightenment

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“The pen is mightier than the sword”
What does this mean?
Where have we heard this before?
Do you agree or disagree – why?
What Was the Enlightenment?
Intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century
that led to a new world view.
New theories about society, government, philosophy,
economics and religion
New way to think about the world and one’s place in it
According to the 18thcentury philosopher
Immanuel Kant, the
“motto” of the
Enlightenment was…
“Have courage to use your
own intelligence!”
THINK FOR YOURSELF!!
Immanuel Kant
Voltaire (1694–1778)
• Attacked intolerance in
society, politics, religion
• “I disapprove of what you
say, but I will defend to
the death your right to say
it!”
John Locke (1632–1704)
• Before governments
existed we lived in a
“State of Nature”
• Our natural rights (rights
that belong to all people)
life, liberty and property
could be taken away, thus
we form governments to
protect these rights
• It is the duty of citizens to
revolt against a
government that is not
securing their rights
Montesquieu
(1689–1755)
• Argued that the best
form of gov’t is one
which power should be
separated
• Three branches –
legislative, executive,
judicial
• “government should be
set up so that no man
need be afraid of
another”
Thomas Paine
• Philadelphian
• Author of many
pamphlets including
“Common Sense” –
widely read, argued
(in simple terms) for
American
independence!
• “An army of
principles can
penetrate where an
army of soldiers
cannot.”
Looking closer at the
documents…
• Analyze excerpts of
Thomas Paine’s
“Common Sense”
• APPARTS
• Rewrite the
excerpts in
language a 4th
grader could
understand
The Enlightenment and the
American Revolution
• Influenced largely
by Enlightenment
thinkers
• Both the
Declaration of
Independence and
the US Constitution
embody
enlightenment
philosophy
Thomas Jefferson
Create a book jacket for Thomas
Paine’s pamphlet
On the front include:
• The title
• The author’s name
• An eye catching visual
that relates to the
pamphlet’s theme
On the back include:
• Information about the
author
• At least one quote
from the book and an
explanation of what it
means
• Comments from other
revolutionary leaders
• Other details that may
help the pamphlet sell!