Enriched World History (Palmieri)
Semester Two, Unit Two: The Age of Revolutions in Ideas and Politics
We will investigate revolutionary new ideas central to the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment. We will
also explore revolutions in France and the Americas that impacted political systems the world over.
Friday, January 29: The Scientific Revolution, p. 538-545
1. In what ways did astronomers and scientists studies conflict with established churches in Europe?
2. What characterized the Scientific Method?
3. What Scientific Revolution individual and ideas do you consider as having the greatest impact on the world? Why?
Monday, February 1: The Enlightenment, p. 546-553 and 561-563
4. What Enlightenment individual and ideas do you consider as having the greatest impact on the world? Why?
5. What central ideas did Adam Smith’s laissez-faire economics contain?
6. What were the purpose of salons?
7. What was the biggest Enlightenment age individual or idea in the arts? Why?
Tuesday, February 2: American Revolution, p. 566-569
8. Who governed the colonies, both in theory and in reality?
9. What were the central causes of the Revolutionary War?
10. What impacts did the Enlightenment have on the American Revolution?
Wednesday, February 3: French Revolution, p. 576-583 and 586-590
11. Describe who made up the First, Second, and Third Estates.
12. What was the Estates General and why did it not serve its purpose in 1789?
13. Discuss the course of events (chronology) which marks the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789.
14. How did the views of the Jacobins and Girondists differ?
15. Who was Robespierre and what was the Reign of Terror?
Thursday/Friday, February 4/5: Individuals of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
Research the individual you have been assigned. This should be typed. Determine the following:
A) Where is he or she from? = 1-2 sentences
B) When did he or she live? = 1-2 sentences
C) What field or discipline would you place them in (biology, political science, literature, etc…)? = 1-2 sents.
D) What were his or her most important contributions (ideas, inventions, discoveries…)? = 4-6 sentences.
E) Why do we consider him or her a part of either the Scientific Revolution or Enlightenment? = 2-4 sents.
Monday, February 8: Napoleon, p 596-603
16. How did Napoleon betray the Revolution’s initial goals and purposes?
17. How did Napoleon uphold the Revolution’s initial goals and purposes?
18. What was Napoleon’s legacy (what impact did he have and what is he remembered for)?
Tuesday, February 9: Revolutions for Independence in Latin America, p 708-712
19. List and describe the social classes in colonial Latin America.
20. How was the revolution in Haiti different from the revolutions in Mexico and Spanish America?
21. What challenges were faced by the new Latin American republics?
Wednesday, February 10 UNIT TWO ASSESSMENT (part one, oral)
Thursday, February 11: UNIT TWO ASSESSMENT (part one, oral)
Friday, February 12: UNIT TWO ASSESSMENT (part two, written)
Things to do in discussion to receive quality participation:
-Present unique and original ideas in response to questions
-Respond to classmates’ ideas
-Use specific examples
Other discussion information:
-You will be in a group of 10-12 participants
-Limit your comments to insightful but brief ideas not longer than 30 seconds
-You don’t need to raise your hand, you can just jump in
-Don’t monopolize conversation, recognize classmates who want to join the conversation
-Speak to your classmates, not the teacher
Questions related to these ideas may be discussed:
-What individuals that we have learned about truly were revolutionary?
-How did the Scientific Revolution change the world? How did it lead to the Enlightenment?
-What ideas from the Enlightenment were most important and most revolutionary?
-How did the Enlightenment change the world? How did it cause Revolutions to occur?
-Do you think the importance of the Enlightenment is exaggerated because it was a movement of a
small amount of people in one region of the world?
-How was the American Revolution revolutionary? How was it not?
-How was the French Revolution revolutionary? How was it not?
-What causes a revolution to occur? What causes a revolution to be successful?
-What forces at work today in nations such as Syria and Egypt are similar to forces at work in revolutions in
France and the US? To which of these historic revolutions is the current situation most similar?