Alabama Social Studies SS24.8.15

SS24.8.15 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• SS24.8.15a

  Compare and contrast the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

• SS24.8.15b

  Summarize how major provisions in the Petition of Right and the English Bill of Rights influenced early forms of constitutional government.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students track how Parliament gained power during conflicts with English kings. They compare Hobbes's support for a strong ruler with Locke's belief in consent and rights. They explain how written limits on taxes, imprisonment, and elections changed the king's power.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student can explain why Hobbes favored strong rule for safety, while Locke said rulers need consent. They can identify a rule in the Petition of Right and a rule in the English Bill of Rights. They can explain how each rule checked the king.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think Hobbes and Locke both supported unlimited royal power because both discussed a social contract. Some think the English Bill of Rights gave everyone the vote. Others think the Petition of Right immediately ended royal rule.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: Give one difference between Hobbes and Locke. Name one rule from the Petition of Right and one from the English Bill of Rights, then explain how each limited the king.

1. 01

   Give pairs clause cards from both documents; have them place each on a 1628 or 1689 timeline and label the royal power it limits.

2. 02

   Ask: Which thinker, Hobbes or Locke, would accept a king ruling without Parliament? Defend your answer with one belief from each.

3. 03

   Play a thinker sort: read 'people may replace a ruler who violates rights' and 'strong rule prevents chaos'; teams raise Locke or Hobbes cards.

4. 04

   Show a city council agenda listing a tax vote; ask students how the vote resembles Parliament's approval of taxes.

• SS24.6.12b

  Compare and contrast how Enlightenment thinkers interpreted the purpose of government and the relationship between government and citizens.

• SS24.6.4b

  Differentiate among the various forms of colonial governments and identify examples of self-government in the colonies, including the Mayflower Compact, New Eng...

• SS24.6.12a

  Describe how the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights contributed to the development of limited government.