The American Revolution and The Enlightenment By: Shea Mello

The Enlightenment Began in the 17th century Used approaches from Scientific Revolution to study society and the natural world Carolus Linnaeus wanted to group living things Samuel Johnson developed English dictionary Denis Diderot (France) cooperated with others and developed the 35 volume encyclopedia Some sought inquiries that tested religious and political associations Society and government Helped model revolutionary movements of 18th cent.

The Enlightenment (Con’t) John Locke said people had the right to rebel when monarchy defied natural rights Sole rights were foundation of civil government No uniform plan for political and social reform Enlightenment partnered with hatred to religion and monarchy Charles III (Spain), Catherine the Great (Russia), and Frederick the Great (Prussia) promoted circulation of new ideas

New Ideas Women helpful in circulation of ideas Middle-class debated books and pamphlets Some were writers and commentators Public areas were places to discuss scientific ideas, technologies, etc. European intellectuals engrossed by Americas Some thought the land as barbaric Others used the New World to support judgment of European society

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin embodied the huge potential of America Born in Boston in 1706 Invented many things such as bifocal glasses, the lightning rod, etc. Important political figure Delegate to the Continental Congress that published the Declaration of Independence Ambassador of Paris, where he became a symbol of the era Life symbolized the Enlightenment’s most vital point, "the freeing of human potential from the effects of inherited privilege.”

Folk Cultures and Popular Protest In 18th century, monarchs tried to boost authority Tried to centralize power by taxes, judicial practice, and public control People saw these as violations of sacred customs Reformers wanted to bring order and discipline

The American Revolution Political and cultural conversion in Europe and the Americas Limited monarchy authority Religion lost its control of Western intellectual life Social order decided by birth was replaced by social idea highlighting competition and social flexibility Lowered fur prices caused stress on environment Proclamation of 1763 Established western limit for settlement

Colonial Protests Colonists hated Stamp Act of 1765 Protests and boycott caused repeal Threatened colonial liberties “Boston Massacre” Parliament repealed some taxes and jobs Crisis Boston tea party Closed Boston port Thomas Gage

The Course of Revolution George Washington led army July 4, 1776 50,000 British troops 30,000 German mercenaries in colonies Overconfident in British military with poor leadership kept them from finding political solutions Iroquois' Confederacy protected land with diplomacy and warfare Split the Iroquois

The Course of Revolution (Con’t) Mohawk were important allies to British Joseph Brant organized force of fighting 1777 defeat of John Burgoyne Mohawks at risk Win against the British ended the war Treaty of Paris gave independence Colonies had governments before Declaration of Independence

Creating New Government Second Continental Congress sent Articles of Confederation Wasn’t approved until 1781 Created “one-house legislature” Confederation couldn’t enforce peace treaty Virginia and other states talked about failure of the government Massachusetts rebellion by war veterans gave sense of urgency to the delegates

Constitutional Convention May of 1787 2nd revolution (nonviolent) Delegates wanted to write a new constitution Outcome gave political power equally to executive, legislative, and judicial branches democracy

Democracy Small amount had all political rights Northerners “hostile” to slavery Southerners protection the institution Women led boycotts during war Some hid as mean, others were nurses New Jersey was only state to give women and African Americans the vote Terminated in 1807

Works Cited The book