Enlightenment Thinkers and American Government

Description

This learning resource explores the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on the foundation of the American government. It focuses on key concepts such as Natural Rights, Social Contract, Separation of Powers, and Civil Liberties, as articulated by philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and David Hume. Students will analyze primary texts, including Locke's 'Second Treatise of Government' and various U.S. founding documents, to identify how these philosophical ideas shaped the principles of governance in the U.S. Through critical thinking questions, analytical frameworks, and argument construction, learners will synthesize their understanding of how Enlightenment concepts of individual rights and governmental structure continue to resonate in modern American society.