The Enlightenment
DBQ
Essay Question: How did the ideas of the Enlightenment challenge the old ways of
thinking and inspire revolutionary ideas?
Use your knowledge of the Age of Enlightenment and the documents to write a well-structured
essay. Use your best grammar, punctuation, spelling and critical thinking skills.
Include the following:
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Divine right of kings and social contract
Church and religion
Role of women in the society
Revolutions in American and in France
Historical context: The Age of Enlightenment, viewed as a revolution in intellectual activity,
changed European views of government and society. These views were developed and spread
by individuals known as philosophes (French for philosophers), those who could apply the
concept of reason to questions of the day. The philosophes examined concepts such as divine
right of monarchs, the union of church and state, and the existence of inequality across social
class and gender, and found them in need of reforms.
Task 1: The passages below are from leading Enlightenment philosophes. Read each document
and answer each question following the document.
Document 1
This speech was made by James I before Parliament at Whitehall, March 21, 1610. It is
transcribed from James I, Works (1616), 528-31.
The state of Monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings are not only God’s lieutenants
upon earth and sit upon God’s throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be
three principal similarities that illustrate the state of Monarchy: one taken out of the word of God
and the two other out of the grounds of policy and philosophy. In the Scriptures kings are called
gods, and so their power after a certain relation compared to the Divine power. Kings are also
compared to the fathers of families, for a king is truly parens patriae, the politic father of his
people. And lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body of man.
1.What reasons does King James I provide to support the ideas of divine right?
Document 2
From John Locke Two Treatises of Government, 1690
Highlight the key ides in the document.
Document 3
In every government there are three kinds of power. These are the legislative, the executive, and
the judicial powers.
The power of the first (legislative) is to create laws and to amend (change) those that have been
already created. The power of the second (executive) is to maintain the public security by
enforcing (carrying out) the laws. The power of the third (judicial) is to punish criminals and settle
the disputes that arise between individuals.
There would be no freedom if the same man or the same group of men controlled those three
powers at once. This man or group of men would have complete control over all parts of the law.
They could create tyrannical laws or enforce them like a tyrant. They could plunder (loot) the
country by their general determinations (choices); and could ruin any private citizen by their
particular decisions.
This is why many of the kings and princes of Europe, whose goal has been to attain absolute
power, have tried to unite in themselves all the branches of government.”
Source: Charles de Montesquieu, “The Spirit of Laws,” written in 1777
1. What form of government did Montesquieu criticize? Why?
Document 4
Rousseau was a French philosopher and author during the Enlightenment. He saw current
governments as corrupt. The following is an excerpt from his most famous work, The Social
Contract, where he talks about his idea for government.
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains (slavery). This is because Man has given up
his freedom to many masters (kings) in order to preserve (protect) his life. This primitive
(outdated) condition can continue no longer. The problem now is to find a form of government
that will defend the life and possessions of each member while still allowing each member to
govern himself and remain as free as before.
The Social Contract provides the solution to this fundamental (important) problem.
The masses (all people) must unite together. This union of all people is called the general will.
Each person must put himself and all his power under the control of the general will and must
obey whatever the general will decides. Each member has the same power and is an equally
important part of the whole (the general will).
Through this Social Contract, man keeps as many of the freedoms he received from nature as
possible. Each man, by giving his freedom to everyone, gives his freedom to no one. Because
each person gives their freedom to the general will, they also become part of the general will and
have the same power as everyone else in the general will.”
Source: Jean-Jacque Rousseau, “The Social Contract,” written in 1762
Note: In political philosophy, the general will is the will of the people as a whole. The term was
made famous by 18th-century Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
2. What is it that leaves men chained, even as they are born free?
3. How did Rousseau explain social contract?
Document 5
4. Why, according to Voltaire, it is good that England allows a “multitude” of religions?
5. What is Voltaire’s main idea about religion in society?
Document 6
Mary Wollstonecraft was a self-educated Enlightenment philosopher from England.
Her focus on women’s rights and education helped to start 19th century Feminism, a movement
for women’s equality.
“All educated men who have written about female education and behavior have depicted women
as artificial (fake), weak, and useless members of society. Even
Rousseau declares that a woman should never even for a moment think of herself as
independent. She should be nothing but an attractive (pretty) object of desire, a sweet companion
(friend) to man. This is the purpose of a woman. What nonsense!
I have observed more girls than Rousseau and will dare to say that a girl whose spirit has not
been broken by society will always be full of energy. I am fully convinced that if girls were allowed
to take enough exercise, and not be kept in closed rooms till their muscles are weak, and their
power to think destroyed, women could do anything. They might even study politics. Educate
women like men and women will have more power. This is the very thing I want. But I do not wish
women to have power over men, but over themselves.”
Source: Mary Wollstonecraft, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” 1792 (Simplified)
6. According to Wollstonecraft, what was the role of a woman in the society in the 1700s?
7. Why does she believe education is important for women?
Document 7
Source: The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government
becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in
such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.…”
8. What rights are the writers claiming that they have?
9. According to this paragraph, what is the purpose of the government?
Task 2: Organize your ideas from the documents. Label each group of ideas (bucketing).
Task 3: Add background knowledge to each of your “buckets”.
Task 4: Make an outline.
Task 5: Write the essay.
Rubric:
Criteria
Demonstrates a logical and clear plan of organization; includes a thesis statement, body paragraphs
and a conclusion.
Points
____/5
Includes at least two clear arguments to support the thesis statement.
____/5
Richly supports the theme with many relevant facts, examples, and details. Each of the arguments is
well explained. All information is relevant and historically accurate.
Includes references to at least three primary sources.
Has no more than 4 grammar or spelling mistakes.
____/5
_____/5
____/5
Total
____/25