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Enlightenment and the American Revolution

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Enlightenment and the American Revolution Enlightenment Ideas Spread 1775-1783 The right to unalienable rights and the right to representation Enlightenment Ideas Spread 1775-1783: Background • Background • Opportunity in colonies=cheap, land, social advancements, new identity • British needed to pay for the French and Indian War (Britain v. France over power in North America and Caribbean) =taxed colonies Causes of the American Revolution “Great upheavals in history occur when circumstances are ripe.” Passed and French and Drained enforced new Indian War Britain tax laws on (1754-63) treasury the colonists Causes of the American Revolution “Great upheavals in history occur when circumstances are ripe.” “No taxation New tax OH NO!!! … without laws on the You tell me representati colonists ☺ on” Causes of the American Revolution: 1. French and Indian War 2. Taxes on Colonies (Taxation w/o Representation) 1. Stamp Act 1767: Stamps on newspapers, public documents, legal papers (help pay war debt) 2. Townsend Act 1767: Tax on glass, paints, tea 1. Boston Massacre 1770: Merchants in Boston called for a boycott of British goods=British sent troops to keep order=shots fired, kill 5 people=repealed most taxes except that on TEA Causes of the American Revolution2. British treasury is 1. Mercantilism drained during the French and Indian War Causes of the American Revolution 3. Trade Laws 1764 4. Stamp Act 1765 The Townshend Act Boston Massacre 1770 1767 Causes of the American Revolution Boston Tea Party 1773 Intolerable Act 1774 Causes of the American Revolution: Review French & Indian War: Britain Needs $ Blame Colonies for Cost SO…. TAX THE COLONIES (Taxation W/O Representation) ↓ Stamp Act & Townsend Act ↓ Boston Massacre ↓ Boston Tea Party ↓ Intolerable Act ↓ REVOLT (build up weapons Britain send more troops) “Great upheavals in history occur when circumstances are ripe.” Lexington and Concord 1775= Shots Heard Around the World: Declaring Independence THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE • 2nd Continental Congress 1776: July 4, 1776 • Thomas Jefferson wrote using Enlightenment thought It’s a brave new world in America! Out with monarchy and in with democracy! Rights of individuals! Government must answer to the people! Declaration of Independence • Drafted by Thomas Jefferson • People had the right to “alter or abolish unjust governments.” • Popular sovereignty • All government power comes from the people • King had trampled the peoples’ natural rights. • Colonists now had the right to rebel Articles of Confederation 1781 • Created National Government with little power because they didn’t want to create a mini-me Britain • Could not tax • Could not navigate with foreign nations • It failed…SO United States Constitution 1789 The Constitution • Used ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau and Voltaire • Created a Representative Democracy (REPUBLIC) • Government in which power is divided between the national (or federal government) and the states • Separation of powers (3 branches) • Citizens VOTE • Bill of Rights added later: Amendments 1-10 Federalist Papers – Writing campaign to convince American citizens to ratify the new Constitution First President: George Washington..
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