First Continental Congress Colonies sent representatives Sent a respectful message to King George III to give them the right to have a say in Parliament Agreed to boycott British goods until the Intolerable Acts were repealed (cancelled)
Enlightenment A time period in the 1600s and 1700s in Europe Time of new ideas and important philosophers (thinkers) Focused on – the rights of people – The relationship of ordinary people to their kings
Before the Enlightenment God gives kings and queens power! We are better that you regular people! Wow, he’s the king! Bow now!!!
John Locke English Wrote that all people were “free and equal and have natural rights of life, liberty, and property” that rulers (kings, queens, etc.) can’t take away George III: Oh, I don’t think so! I am the king, I can do WHATEVER I WANT HAHAHAH!
Natural Rights If you were going to create your own country, what would the natural rights for your people be? List at least 5! Example: – Right to an awesome teacher like Ms. Bell – Right to have as many children as you want – Right to drive a car
John Locke and Power Big Idea #2 Part 1: All power comes from ordinary people, not God!
John Locke & the Social Contract Big Idea #2 Part 2: People enter in to a social contract or deal with each other to form a government to protect their natural rights Okay guys, let’s create a government! Sounds like a deal!
Big Idea #3 People promise to follow the laws that the government makes This is the idea or principle of “ordered liberty”
Big Idea #4: Limited Government Government’s powers are limited to those the people have consented (agreed) to give to it. When a government gets in the way of people’s natural rights, it breaks the social contract, and the people have the right to alter or overthrow it (kick it out). We didn’t give the king the right to tax us! He’s not protecting our natural right to property! Let’s get him out!!! Oh no!
First Continental Congress Colonies sent representatives Sent a respectful message to King George III to give them the right to have a say in Parliament Agreed to boycott British goods until the Intolerable Acts were repealed (cancelled)
Common Sense What is common sense? Describe someone you know who shows common sense.
Thomas Paine and Common Sense Thomas Paine was an English immigrant to America who produced a pamphlet known as Common Sense that challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England. Common Sense was read and acclaimed by many American colonists during the mid- 1700s and contributed to a growing sentiment for independence from Great Britain.
Definition Things that everyone can tell is true and right Things that make you say “duh!!!”
Examples of Common Sense
Thomas Paine Immigrant from England Wanted independence for the colonies Wanted to make people see they needed to break away His pamphlet, Common Sense, goes viral in the colonies!
Pamphlet a small booklet or with information or arguments about a single subject.
Viral When something becomes very popular very quickly
T-Pain Breaks it Down Paine puts Locke’s ideas into simple language that everyone can understand Soon after, the 2 nd Continental Congress
“Yo, we need to break away now, the King is WHACK!”
Excerpt A “I have heard it asserted (said) by some, that as America hath flourished (done well) under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious (wrong) than this kind of argument.”
People say, hey, America has done well as a colony of Great Britain. They think that means we got to stay a colony if we want to keep growing. That argument is just WRONG!
Excerpt B “ We have boasted (bragged) the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive (reason) was interest, not attachment, and she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account…”
We thought it was a good thing to have the British fight for us during the French & Indian War. BUT, Britain did it because it was good for her, not because she loved us…
Excerpt C “ But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then more shame upon her conduct (behavior). Even brutes (jerks) do not devour their young, nor savages (Indians) make war upon their families…”
“Yo, people say we can’t separate from Britain, she is like a mom to us! I say, if that is true then it makes the way she has treated us even worse! Not even the worst types of people eat their children or fight with their families!”
Excerpt D “I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation (making up), to show a single advantage that this continent can reap (gain), by being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge, not a single advantage is derived…”
“Hey, I bet that even the biggest fan of staying with Britain can’t come up with one good thing that will happen if we stay. I repeat, NO GOOD WILL COME FROM STAYING TOGETHER!”
Excerpt E “Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd (crazy dumb), in supposing a continent to be perpetually (forever) governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than the primary planet.”
“Yo, the only place that Britian should make colonies should be little baby islands too small to rule themselves. It is crazy stupid to have a little island rule a huge continent. Big planets don’t orbit around small ones!
Excerpt F “Nothing but independence…can keep the peace of the continent…a government of our own is our natural right: and when a man seriously reflects (thinks about) on the precariousness (dangerousness) of human affairs, he will be convinced, that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power…”
“The only way to keep peace is to declare independence! When you think about the dangers of human government, it is way better to calm down and make our own laws.
Book Cover Update! Common Sense needs a new cover! What you need: – Direction sheet – Markers/Pencils – Card paper – 20pts!