1.	Focus Question: What was the reform program of the philosophes and how did the hope to achieve it?
	What did the philosophes attempt to do? What was their attitude toward reform?  How did Voltaire feel toward the English?  What was the general attitude of the philosophes’ toward human society, was it possible to improve it, how?  What did the authors of the Encyclopedia attempt to do? What impact did it have?  Where did the authors look for their inspiration?  How did they see the future welfare of humankind? What was the attitude of the philosophes toward traditional religion, why? What were the two major points in the deists' creed?  How did the deists view God and why did they reach this conclusion?  What was the deist attitude toward religious toleration?  Did the deists consider secular or religious values more important?
2.	Focus Question:  What were the main ideas of  the Enlightened thinkers: Adam Smith, Montesquieu, and Rousseau?
	What did the philosophes believe would happen by the application of human reason to society?  How did the ideas of Adam Smith differ from those of mercantilism?  How did Smith look upon the physical resources of the earth? What role did Smith envision for the government?  What method did Montesquieu use in his research?  What role did he envision for the French aristocracy?  What was the root of French political problems according to Montesquieu?  What did Montesquieu admire in the British system of government?  Was his view of England justified?  How did civilization affect human nature, according to Rousseau?  How did Rousseau's views differ from those of most 18th century political thinkers?  According to Rousseau, what was the cause of much of the evil in the world?  How did Rousseau define freedom? In Rousseau's thought who was most important, the individual or the society? From where did Rousseau get his inspiration?  What were the logical implications of this idea?
3.	Focus Question: What was the position of women during the Enlightenment?
	What was the general attitude of the philosophes toward the social condition of women?  What was Montesquieu's attitude?  What was the attitude expressed in the Encyclopedia?  What was Rousseau's attitude to women's roles?  What was Mary Wollstonecraft's argument in favor of women's rights?
4.	Focus Question:  To what extent were the "enlightened monarchs" truly enlightened, and what was the nature of their reforms?
	What was the attitude of most philosophes toward the monarchies?  What is "Enlightened absolutism"?  What was the goal of the enlightened rulers of the 18th century?  Which 18th c. ruler most embodied the enlightened ideal?  What type of ruler was Maria Theresa?  What was Joseph II's chief goal?  What were Joseph II's chief reforms?  Why did most of his reforms fail?  Why measures did Joseph II take in regards to religion? Who was more successful in their reforms, Maria Theresa or Joseph II?  What were Catherine the Great's national origins?  How did Joseph II's reforms differ from those of Catherine the Great?  Why did Catherine favor the nobles?  What was Catherine’s main political goal?  How did she attain it?  How many times was Poland divided before it disappeared as from the map of Europe?  Which countries took part in the division? What internal Polish situation had made a division possible?  What does the partition of Poland indicate about the spirit of "enlightened absolutism"?
	Wealth of Nations laissez-faire The Spirit of the Laws A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Josephinism