5.1 The Enlightenment

5.1 Multiple Choice Practice

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

1. Wollstonecraft's main goal in this passage is to

A) secure inheritance rights for surviving wives

B) secure female equality with males

C) allow men and women to marry based on love

D) encourage Britain to support the bourgeoisie in the French Revolution

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

1. Wollstonecraft's main goal in this passage is to

A) secure inheritance rights for surviving wives (No mention of property or inheritance law.)

B) secure female equality with males

C) allow men and women to marry based on love (She mentions marriage based on affection, but only as a result of equality)

D) encourage Britain to support the bourgeoisie in the French Revolution (Not relevant at all; she’s focused on women’s rights, not class revolution)

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

2. Which of the following writers would LEAST likely support the goals of Mary Wollstonecraft?
A) A conservative
B) A utopian socialist
C) A classical liberal
D)A Marxist

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

2. Which of the following writers would LEAST likely support the goals of Mary Wollstonecraft?
A) A conservative
B) A utopian socialist (Believed in radical social reform and improving conditions for marginalized groups.)
C) A classical liberal (Supported Enlightenment ideals of natural rights, individual liberty, and equality.)
D)A Marxist (Would critique patriarchy as part of oppressive social structures, so while different in reasoning, they'd support women’s emancipation.)

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

3. What part of the excerpt is connected most closely to the ideals of the Enlightenment!

A) its reference to equality in marriage

B) its mention of equitable laws

C) its appeal to reason
D) its rejection of tyrants

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

"Who made man the exclusive judge, if women partake with him the gift of reason? In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured [confined against their will] in their families groping in the dark? For surely, sir, you will not assert that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason...?

Let there be, then, no coercion established in society, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the sexes will fall into their proper places. And now, that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more sacred, your young may choose wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity."

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women

(Dedicatory letter to Talleyrand of France), 1792

3. What part of the excerpt is connected most closely to the ideals of the Enlightenment!

A) its reference to equality in marriage (Related, but marriage reform is not a core Enlightenment principle.)

B) its mention of equitable laws (Enlightenment thinkers did push law reform, but her use of reason is the strongest, most direct link.)

C) its appeal to reason
D) its rejection of tyrants (Also Enlightenment-related, but again, reason is the foundational idea.)