Emerging Ideas Influence Government AP US History Mr. Cullivan

I. Rise of Individualism To what extent are people naturally born with intelligence/athleticism/talent, or are these skills developed as people practice them over time? Nature vs. Nurture Enlightenment ideas and philosophy inspired many American political thinkers to emphasize individual talent over hereditary privilege, while religion strengthened Americans’ view of themselves as a people blessed with liberty. John Locke Jean Jacques Rousseau c) Adam Smith 3.2.1.A Potentially add in “Radical British Political Philosophy” right before? Could emphasis rationalism Potential Idea: Round table debate on ideas between Locke, Rousseau, Smith, George III, and Hobbes

II. Republican Self-Government The colonists’ belief in the superiority of republican forms of government based on the natural rights of the people found expression in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence. The ideas in these documents resonated throughout American history, shaping Americans’ understanding of the ideals on which the nation was based. 3.2.I.B

New Government Reflects New Ideas Many new state constitutions placed power in the hands of the legislative branch and maintained property qualifications for voting and citizenship. 3.2.II.A. On April 18, 1775 the American War of Independence began. The 13 original Colonies asked Congress to take charge of the Continental army and the conduct of the war. Congress began to act as advisor as the Colonies changed into States. On May 15, 1776 Congress advised all the colonies to form governments for themselves. Legislative assemblies in the formerly British colonies began writing and adopting new constitutions to become sovereign and independent states Old Standard: Many new state constitutions and the national Articles of Confederation, reflecting republican fears of both centralized power and excessive popular influence, placed power in the hands of the legislative branch and maintained property qualifications for voting and citizenship.

IV. Main Idea The ideals that inspired the revolutionary cause reflected new beliefs about politics, religion, and society that had been developing over the course of the 18th century. 3.2.I