If you’re looking for a brief (650 words) summary on a topic in history you’re in the right place! You can find reading passages for U.S. History and World History topics and can download a PDF copy for yourself. If you need a digital copy there is a Google link provided as well.
This is an ongoing project, so stop back frequently and see what we’ve added. When I say “we” I mean my brother and I. I have been teaching social studies for 19 years and my brother, Joe, is an historian. Between the 2 of us we create these reading passages.
TO VIEW A DIRECTORY ALL OF THE GLOBAL HISTORY PASSAGES CLICK HERE.
If you’re interested in some close read lesson ideas for teaching with this resource this article will help .
Enlightenment Era
Ignorance can be described as “being in the dark” about something. Likewise, “enlightenment” is finding knowledge, fighting ignorance. Thus, the Enlightenment Era (or the Age of Reason) was an intellectual movement of European history in the 17th and 18th Centuries emphasizing reason and human development.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of human knowledge by use of reason while philosophers are those who study philosophy. The use of reason could also be applied to many areas such as science, government and social issues. “Philosophes” was the name of intellectuals of the 18th Century in particular who applied reason to diverse fields.
During this period, human reason, as compared to reliance on religion or tradition, was seen by many as a basic way to handle human affairs. This was a development that arose from such things as the growth of humanism (focusing on human thoughts and needs), developments in science (scientific revolution) and religion (Protestant Revolution).
Political Philosophy
Reason was applied to formulate how best to govern with many political philosophers in this era in particular influencing the founding of the United States. Thomas Hobbes was a British philosopher; he wrote Leviathan to discuss his views of the basis of political society. Another influential British political philosopher, particularly in the United States, was John Locke. And, the French philosopher Montesquieu (Spirit of the Laws) discussed the concept of separation of powers.
A basic concern for all was the concept of a “social contract,” a theory describing the justification of governmental or social power over individuals. The French philosopher Rousseau also discussed this concept, including in crafting means to educate children. Political philosophy argued government must protect the needs of the people, including limits on government to prevent harm.
Religious Liberty
Enlightenment thought spoke of a “natural law” that not only was a scientific explanation of nature but of human existence as well. It could be discovered by use of reason, which for some left a limited role for a deity (god). Some believed in deism, that God created the universe and basically let it run without interference. If not deists, many still relied largely on rationalism, use of reason as the prime source of knowledge. One “rationalist” was Spinoza.
There also grew an understanding that church and state should be separate, the “secular state” and religious life separate spheres. Religious institutions, critiqued along with others by such people like Voltaire (writer of Candide, satirizing European society), must have limits too. Individual religious liberty was key.
Other Areas
All areas of human experience provided fodder for philosophical contemplation. For instance, Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations, discussing his economic philosophy such as the promotion of free trade. Cesare Beccaria, an Italian philosopher, wrote On Crime and Punishments to discuss his views.
His writings influenced the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which bars cruel and unusual punishments.
The Age of Reason thus had wide influence, including in the American and French Revolutions. A pushback ultimately developed known as “romanticism,” more focused on emotional life and passions. This flowed into the 19th Century.
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If you’re looking for some lesson ideas to do with this reading passage I created a video you can watch here.
Happy teaching!