Causes of Revolutions: Enlightenment Ideas

History
Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
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Causes of Revolutions: Enlightenment Ideas

Subject: HistoryGrade: Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
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Grade Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
A

Timeline of Enlightenment Ideas and Revolutions

Source A: Excerpts from key Enlightenment thinkers

'All men are created equal, with rights that cannot be taken away.' — John Locke, 1689

'The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental right.' — Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762

'Freedom of speech and thought are essential for a just society.' — Voltaire, 1749

'The power of the government should be limited and based on the consent of the governed.' — Montesquieu, 1748

Source B: Key revolutionary events influenced by Enlightenment ideas

1776: Declaration of Independence, USA

1789: French Revolution begins

1791: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

1792: Rise of revolutionary ideas spreading across Europe

1804: Haiti gains independence

Questions:

  1. Outline the main Enlightenment ideas presented in Source A. (3 marks)
  • Marking: Look for identification of ideas like equality, rights, freedom, and limited government.
  • Model Answer: The main Enlightenment ideas include the belief that all men are created equal with inherent rights, the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental right, the importance of freedom of speech and thought, and the need for government to be limited and based on the consent of the people.
  1. Compare the revolutionary events in Source B with the ideas from Source A. (4 marks)
  • Marking: Expect recognition of how Enlightenment ideas influenced these events.
  • Model Answer: The revolutionary events in Source B, such as the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution, were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideas. For example, the American Declaration emphasized natural rights and equality, echoing Locke's ideas, while the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man reflected Rousseau's and Voltaire's calls for liberty and equality.
  1. Explain how Enlightenment ideas contributed to the Haitian Revolution of 1804. (3 marks)
  • Marking: Focus on linking ideas like liberty and equality to the Haitian context.
  • Model Answer: Enlightenment ideas about freedom and equality inspired enslaved Africans and free people of color in Haiti to challenge colonial rule, leading to the fight for independence that embodied these principles.
  1. Analyze the chronological development of Enlightenment ideas from the late 17th to the late 18th century. (5 marks)
  • Marking: Look for understanding of how ideas evolved and influenced different revolutions over time.
  • Model Answer: Enlightenment ideas developed gradually, starting with Locke's emphasis on natural rights in 1689, followed by Rousseau's ideas about the social contract in 1762, and Voltaire's advocacy for freedom of speech in 1749. These ideas matured and spread, culminating in revolutionary documents like the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789, which applied Enlightenment principles to political change.
  1. Write a brief summary explaining the significance of the Enlightenment in shaping modern revolutions. (4 marks)
  • Marking: Expect reference to the influence on ideas of rights, government, and social change.
  • Model Answer: The Enlightenment was significant because it introduced ideas about individual rights, the importance of reason, and limited government, which inspired revolutionary movements worldwide. These ideas challenged traditional authority and laid the foundation for modern democratic societies.
  1. Compare the impact of Enlightenment ideas on the American and French Revolutions. (4 marks)
  • Marking: Look for recognition of similarities and differences in how ideas influenced each revolution.
  • Model Answer: Both revolutions were driven by Enlightenment ideas such as liberty, equality, and the social contract. The American Revolution focused on independence from colonial rule and the protection of individual rights, while the French Revolution aimed to overthrow monarchy and establish a society based on equality and fraternity. Although similar in motivation, the context and outcomes differed, but both were rooted in Enlightenment principles.
  1. Explain why the spread of Enlightenment ideas was important for revolutionary movements across Europe and the Americas. (3 marks)
  • Marking: Expect recognition of ideas spreading beyond France and Britain.
  • Model Answer: The spread of Enlightenment ideas was important because it provided intellectual justification for challenging traditional authority, encouraging people to seek political and social change across Europe and the Americas.
  1. Outline how the ideas of Voltaire contributed to revolutionary thinking. (3 marks)
  • Marking: Expect mention of Voltaire's advocacy for free speech, tolerance, and criticism of authority.
  • Model Answer: Voltaire's ideas contributed to revolutionary thinking by emphasizing the importance of free speech, tolerance, and criticizing unjust rulers and religious dogma, which inspired calls for civil liberties and reforms.
  1. Compare the influence of Rousseau's ideas with those of Locke regarding government and individual rights. (4 marks)
  • Marking: Look for understanding of both philosophers' views and their impact.
  • Model Answer: Locke believed that government should protect natural rights such as life, liberty, and property, and that citizens have the right to overthrow a government that fails to do so. Rousseau, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of the general will and direct democracy, advocating that sovereignty resides with the people. Both influenced revolutions by promoting ideas about the legitimacy of government and the importance of individual rights.
  1. Analyze how Enlightenment ideas challenged traditional authority and contributed to revolutionary change. (5 marks)
  • Marking: Expect an explanation of the challenge to monarchy, religious authority, and aristocratic privilege.
  • Model Answer: Enlightenment ideas challenged traditional authority by promoting the concepts of reason, individual rights, and the social contract, which questioned the divine right of kings and the power of the church. These ideas encouraged people to demand political participation, equality, and reforms, thereby fueling revolutionary movements seeking to overthrow old regimes and establish new, more democratic systems.

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Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
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