Enlightenment Philosophers: Who Thought What?

Enlightenment thinkers, called philosophes, believed rational thinking and education would improve government and society. In this social studies worksheet for middle school, students will review the names and dates of five key Enlightenment philosophes: Hobbes, Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Learners will read descriptions of Enlightenment ideas associated with each philosopher in a table, and then they'll use a word bank to match the ideas to the philosopher and book associated with each statement. This exercise provides a helpful overview of significant Enlightenment ideas about natural rights, social contracts, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and government practices.