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What is The Enlightenment Era?
The Age of Enlightenment (or simply the
Enlightenment or Age of Reason) was a cultural
movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe
and the American colonies. Its purpose was to
reform society using reason (rather than tradition,
faith and revelation) and advance knowledge
through science. It promoted science and
intellectual interchange and opposed
superstition,[1] intolerance and abuses by church
and state. Originating about 1650 to 1700, it was
sparked by philosophers.
John Locke
Info
Ideas
Impact
 Philosopher
 Born August 29, 1632
 Studied at Westminster School and
Photo from iep.utm.edu
Snapshot
DOB: August 1632
DOD: October 1704
From: England
Networks: Westminster
School, Christ Church,
Oxford, Royal Society
Christ Church, Oxford
 Single
 Wrote Two Treatises of
Government
Ideas
“”
Locke had multiple ideas that influenced the
Founders:
Natural Rights/Law
Social Contract
First, we need to answer one question…
Individually, answer this question:
What are natural rights?
• How would you define it?
What is natural law?
• How would you define it?
Natural Rights
 John Locke believed all humans have natural rights,
those being:
•
•
•
Life
Liberty
Property
 He believed all people have these rights just because they
are human beings.
Natural Law
• Natural law is…
•
A higher, unchanging set of rules that govern human
relations
Click on the picture below to learn more
about natural NATURAL
law and natural/human
LAW
rights.
Natural Rights/Law
 Imagine a group of people are out at sea and their
boat is shipwrecked on a deserted island



There is no government
There are no laws
According to Locke, this is known as a “state of nature”
What are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of living in a state of nature?
What rights would you expect to have?
In a group of 5, complete your
“State of Nature” worksheet*
Natural Rights/Law
Answer these questions on your worksheet
individually:
 What are 3 rights that you think every person has or
should have?
 How are those rights guaranteed?
Now, in a group of 5:
 Decide on 5 rights every person should have.
Now, as a class:
 Decide on 5 rights every person should have.
Now think about this question…
Individually, answer this question:
What is the purpose of
government?
Social Contract
 Locke proposed that in order to keep our natural
rights, the people must engage in a social contract
• The people agree to
create and live under a
government and obey
its laws.
• They also must give
that government the
power to make and
enforce laws.
• In return, the people gain the
protection of the government
Go To Natural Rights/Law
Impact
• According to Locke, the purpose of
government is to protect the natural rights
of individuals
…that all men are created equal, that they
• The Founders agreed and included these
are endowed by their Creator with certain
natural rights and social contract in the
unalienable Rights, that among these
Declaration of Independence.
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
• The Founders also included the idea of social
Happiness. — That to secure these rights,
contract in the first three words of the
Governments are instituted among Men,
Preamble to the United States Constitution…
deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed…
The Constitution also
limits the powers of
government to protect
the rights
of the people.