Name
Class
Date
Biography
Enlightenment and Revolution
Mary Wollstonecraft
1759–1797
WHY SHE MADE HISTORY Mary
Wollstonecraft was one of the first important
feminists. Her book, A Vindication of the
Rights of Woman, was the first great feminist
document.
As you read the biography below, think about
how Mary Wollstonecraft’s individualism helped
her to become a champion for women’s rights.
Mary Wollstonecraft was a woman ahead of her
times. During the 1600s and 1700s, women were
not educated in the same manner as men. Most
women received training only in the things they
needed to know to run households and raise
children. Women received little if no formal
education beyond reading and writing their own
names. Higher education was restricted to men.
Many powerful men were opposed to education
for women. King James I of England was quoted
saying, “To make women learned and foxes tame
has the same effect—to make them more cunning.”
Wollstonecraft wanted to change those attitudes.
She strongly believed that women should have
the same educational and social opportunities
as men. This sounds like a simple request, but in
Wollstonecraft’s day this was radical thinking.
Wollstonecraft worked as a teacher and a
governess. In 1787 she first expressed her ideas on
education for women in her publication, Thoughts
on the Education of Daughters. She began working
as a translator for a publisher and several of her
other works were published. Wollstonecraft’s most
© Tate Gallery/Art Resource, NY
VOCABULARY
cunning crafty, tricky
or sly
feminist person who
believes in equality
between the sexes
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4
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Enlightenment and Revolution
6/28/05 2:03:41 PM
Name
Class
Date
Biography
Mary Wollstonecraft, continued
important work, A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman, was published in 1792. It was the first
major document on women’s right to education.
Wollstonecraft argued that the practice of training
women to be shallow and incompetent in affairs
outside of the home was a mistake. She said that
educated women would make better wives and
mothers, and would also be capable workers.
Wollstonecraft called for a radical reform of the
educational system to include women.
Sadly, Wollstonecraft’s arguments caused great
controversy but little action. It wasn’t until the rise
of the women’s movement in the mid-1800s that
her ideas were revived and influenced the feminist
movements in Europe and the United States.
In 1798 Wollstonecraft married British political
reformer William Godwin. Their daughter, Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley, is best known for writing the
novel Frankenstein.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Recall What was the theme of Mary Wollstonecraft’s publication, A Vindication of
the Rights of Woman?
2. Evaluate Think about King James’s quote, “To make women learned and foxes
tame has the same effect—to make them more cunning.” Why do you think many
men did not want women to be educated?
ACTIVITY
Imagine that you are the headmaster at a school for boys in the 1700s.
Mary Wollstonecraft writes a letter asking you to accept some talented
girls in your school. What arguments might she give to convince you to
accept the girls in your school? Write a copy of the type of letter you think
that Wollstonecraft might send you, and another letter with your reply.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
5
Enlightenment and Revolution
Answer Key
Enlightenment and Revolution
Vocabulary Builder
Section 1
Biography
Mary Wollstonecraft
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
the Age of Reason
a social gathering held to discuss ideas
a non-religious movement
Mary Wollstonecraft
Voltaire
Enlightenment
secular
Adam Smith
Denis Diderot
salon
1. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
was about women’s rights to formal
education.
2. Accept reasonable answers.
Biography Charles Louis
Montesquieu
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. The three classifications of government in
Vocabulary Builder
Section 2
Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws are; the
republic, based on virtue; monarchy, based
on honor; and despotism, based on fear.
2. Possible answers: The aspects of
Montesquieu’s thinking that may have
influenced the American Constitution
are his belief in the importance of human
dignity and the evils of despotism,
slavery and intolerance. He argued that
government should be divided into three
separate powers; legislative, executive,
and judicial working independently of
each other.
1. true
2. false—John Locke argued for government
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
as a contract between the ruler and
the people.
false—Charles Louis Montesquieu
believed that a government should be
divided into separate bodies, or branches,
to protect people’s freedom.
false—Benjamin Franklin argued against
“taxation without representation” when
he addressed Parliament’s House of
Commons stating that the colonists had
no representative in Parliament.
true
true
true
Biography
Thomas Jefferson
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Jefferson’s most important achievement as
president was the Louisiana Purchase.
Vocabulary Builder
Section 3
2. Possible Answer: The main difference
between the Federalist and the Republican
parties was that the Federalists wanted
a strong central government while the
Republicans wanted a decentralized
government with strong individual
state rights.
1. regime
2. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
the Citizen
English Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
Bastille
First Continental Congress
unalienable
Articles of Confederation
U.S. Constitution
Magna Carta; English Bill of Rights
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
35
Enlightenment and Revolution