Do the words politician and moral go together? Machiavelli argues that an effective politician does not always act moral. Learners take an in-depth look at his theories about leaders by watching a video about government. To keep your historians engaged, it includes relevant examples from history and current events.

Concepts

niccolo machiavelli, political leaders, politicians, the prince, morality, morals

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Break the class into small groups and conduct a debate about morality in government
• Assign readings of Machiavelli's works to familiarize your students with his work

Classroom Considerations

• While not graphic, the video does cover some topics relating to violence
  

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• The narrator uses intriguing language and keeps the concepts interesting for pupils
• Includes primary sources as visuals to help scholars understand their importance
• A variety of examples aid the learning process

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.7 RH.9-10.9 RH.11-12.7 RH.11-12.9