The Social Contract Lesson Plan

For this section, students should read Chapters 9-18 of Book III of On the Social Contract.

Common Core Objectives

1. 1

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2. 2

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Note that it is perfectly fine to expand any day’s work into two days depending on the characteristics of the class, particularly if the class will engage in all of the suggested classroom exercises and activities and discuss all of the thought questions.

Content Summary for Teachers

Book III, Chapter IX

Rousseau then reflects upon the previous chapters, and asks: what is the best kind of government? He answers that it is impossible to know for sure, since the government that is best for a nation is determined by their own specific character and...