​The Enlightenment: Ideas as Causes of Reform & Revolution

​The Enlightenment: Ideas as Causes of Reform & Revolution

By Isiah Jones

Do Now – Ideas in Action

Analyze Preamble of the Seneca Falls Declaration using the acronym HIPPO. Write your  answers below. 

Open Ended

Explains how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument.

What You Just Did

You just identified an intellectual cause of reform.

The Seneca Falls Declaration did not appear randomly—it was influenced by Enlightenment ideas such as:

• Natural rights

• Equality

• Consent of the governed

Today’s Focus

Today, you will analyze how Enlightenment thinking caused reforms and revolutions after 1750.

You will:

• Identify CAUSES (ideas)

• Explain EFFECTS (reforms/revolutions)

• Practice the same thinking used on SAQs, LEQs, and DBQs

Enlightenment = Cause, Not Event

The Enlightenment was a movement of ideas, not a revolution itself.

These ideas:

• Challenged monarchy

• Questioned tradition

• Redefined rights and citizenship

How to Annotate While Reading

While reading, annotate:

• Highlight “C” → Enlightenment idea (CAUSE)

• Annotate “E” → Briefly explain the EFFECT in your own words

Reminder:

Effects must show change, not just name an event.

Key Enlightenment Vocabulary

Natural Rights: Rights that all people are born with and cannot be taken away by a government, such as life, liberty, and property.

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Social Contract: The idea that governments exist to protect people’s rights, and people agree to follow laws as long as the government does its job.

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Popular Sovereignty: The principle that government power comes from the people, not from kings, queens, or divine right.

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Religious Toleration: A policy or belief that people should be free to practice different religions without punishment or persecution by the state.

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Equality Before the Law: The idea that all people are treated the same under the law, regardless of social class, wealth, or status.

Multiple Choice

Which situation best demonstrates popular sovereignty?

• Citizens voting in a referendum to decide on a policy.
• A government official making a unilateral decision.
• Citizens attending a town hall meeting to discuss issues.
• A court ruling on a law without public input.

Multiple Choice

Why was equality before the law considered revolutionary in the 1700s?

• Equality before the law was a concept that had no impact on daily life.
• It reinforced the power of the monarchy and the elite classes.
• Equality before the law was revolutionary because it challenged existing hierarchies and promoted the idea that all individuals should be treated equally, regardless of social status.
• Equality before the law was seen as unnecessary and irrelevant to society.

Multiple Choice

According to the idea of the social contract, when do people have the right to change their government?

• When citizens disagree on social issues.
• When the government is elected by a majority.
• When the economy is thriving and stable.
• When the government fails to protect rights or serve the common good.

SAQ – Reading & Annotation Directions

How to Read & Mark the Documents (Paper Copy)

Underline → Author’s main argument/claim
Circle → Enlightenment ideas
(natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty, equality)
Star → Historical context (events, conditions, time period)

Margin Notes

• C = Enlightenment idea causing the argument

• E = Effect (reform, resistance, or change being argued)
  

Answer the SAQ

A. Historical Context
Explain what was happening at the time that shaped Document Two.

B. Difference in Arguments
Compare how the two documents argue for change.

C. Reason for the Difference
Explain why the arguments differ (audience, time period, social group).

Open Ended

Explain how the two arguments differ in their arguments.