Essay Wednesday! See older post (Oct. 26) for study materials

Can you answer these two questions in essay form?

1- What principles and ideas found in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were inspired by the enlightenment thinkers?  Explain in detail!

2- How did these ideas change the way society and government were run? (Compare to the past)  How is our idea of government different from previously held political views?  Explain in detail!

Key Ideas of the Declaration of Independence:

• All men are created equal.

• Men have inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

• Governments are instituted to protect these rights.

• Governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed.

• If a government takes away people’s natural rights, the people have a right to abolish it.

• People have a right to establish a new government that will protect their natural

Outline

Introduction

          Possible Hooks:  -"We the People" US Constitution

                                        -"All men are created equal" Declaration of Independence

                                         - "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"Declaration of Independence 
                                                       - "all power corrupts, absolute power curropts absolutely" Lord Acton

Possible hook and Historical Context


(ex. "We the people" are the first words of our Constitution.  In these words we see a dramatic change in the understanding of government that ccured as America became its own country.  The idea that the common people could define the purpose and power of government was extremly radical.  This idea sprang from the movement called the enlightenment.  The enlightenment started with the scientific revolution and expanded to question all forms of authorityin society in the hope that society could be improved or possibly perfected.)


         Historical Context:  Define the Enlightenment (ex. Questioning all authority to improve society)

           Thesis Statement: Take this from the task (ex: The principles and ideas of our D of I and Constitution flow directly from the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers.  These ideas were a radical break from the ideas about government and society that came before.)  

Body Paragraph 1

          Topic sentence: We can see the words of the enlightenment philosphers in our founding documents.

                Proofs - ideas of the Enlightenment that have shaped the declaration of In dependence and the Constitution 

                           (Example: John Locke - people can remove governments that do not protect              their natural rights.  This is the whole premise of our right to declare independence from England...)   

Body Paragraph 2

          Topic sentence: The ideas of the enlightenment where a dramatic break from what came before.  Government looked radically different when our democracy was created.

                Proofs - How the ideas if the enlightenment are different from what came before 

                           (Example: Monarchy vs Democracy slide in the review PPT)

Conclusion

Quickly Restate the Thesis and your proof
Your opinion
Quote (you can use one of the hooks)
Wrap up