Rerum novarum

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/rerum-novarum

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Rerum novarum?Pope Leo XIII
2. What is the document type?Encyclical
3. What is the date of publication?May 15, 1891
4. Why did Pope Leo XIII write Rerum Novarum?He wanted to help workers who were treated badly in factories and to find a fair way between too much capitalism and socialism.
5. How does Rerum Novarum say workers should be treated?It says workers have the right to join unions, get a living wage, and be treated with dignity.

Encyclical: A formal papal letter addressed to bishops and often the wider Church, concerning doctrine or social issues.
Labor: The human effort, both physical and mental, applied to the production of goods and services.
Capital: Financial assets, property, and other resources used in the production of wealth.
Trade Union: An organization of workers formed to protect and advance their collective interests, such as wages and working conditions.