The Enlightenment and the American Revolution

This is what you need to know… C.S.S 11.1.1 Describe the Enlightenment and the rise of democratic ideas and how they influenced the founding of the US Read about the Enlightenment on pages. 52-53

What were the key concepts of the Enlightenment? Consent of the governed “We the people” Natural Rights Life, liberty, property, pursuit…. Purpose of government Protect our natural rights Elected representatives Right to overthrow tyrannical government Legal Equality

Other Influences on colonists: Magna Carta 1215 Habeas Corpus Due process Right to a speedy trial Jury trial Right of property owners to be consulted about taxes Refutation of divine rights

English Bill of Rights 1689 Included all of the Magna Carta rights and more. Presumption of innocence No standing army during peace time Freedom of travel Guarantee of regular legislative sessions

Declaration of Independence Activities Complete the matrix activity Complete the rewrite activity. Objectives: Explain the purpose of the Declaration Summarize its main ideas What Enlightenment principles doe it embody?

American Revolution inspired by Enlightenment principles. All of the following rights developed over the centuries were denied to the colonists who were British citizens. Taxation with representation Denial of jury trial Writs of Assistance Quartering Act Standing Army during peacetime Intolerable Acts Restricted travel & trade Disallowed regular legislative sessions

Proclamation of 1763 Following the French and Indian War British forbade settlement west of the original colonies.

Sugar and Stamp Acts 1764 & 1765 Taxes were used to pay the debt incurred for the French Indian War. What justification did the British have to be upset?

Boston Massacre 1770 Sons of Liberty organize a protest against the British. Shots fired! Paul Revere and Samuel Adams exaggerated what occurred for propaganda.

Intolerable Acts Quartering Act Suspending colonial legislature in Boston Closing Boston harbor Quebec Act

Intolerable Acts Closing Boston port Quebec Act Quartering Act Suspending Boston legislature Closing Boston Port

Olive Branch Petition 7-1775 The Olive Branch Petition was a last ditch effort to reconcile differences with British before declaring independence. King ignored it

Common Sense Thomas Paine Sold 500,000 copies in 1776 Attacked King George II as a tyrannical brute. Gave a list of reasons why the colonies were better off without Britain. Felt all the advantages of union went to Britain

How did the British violate colonial rights? Declaration of Independence gives detailed account of their specific grievances. Your job is show how each of these events violated the colonists’ rights

Articles of Confederation Government was too weak Tax Couldn’t pay back loans and 9/13 to pass a law Difficult to pass laws Unanimity Almost impossible to change laws No nat’l court to enforce laws passed by legislature No nat’l judiciary

Constitutional Convention Purpose was to revise AOC Key to success at Convention was compromise Small vs. large states US House of Reps US Senate States feared strong tyrannical central government Federalism SOP C/B Slavery 3/5 compromise How to protect individual liberties? BOR Many more compromises

Problems fixed by US Constitution Proportional representation – Great Compromise Equality of state representation – Great Compromise Ability to foresee future problems – elastic clause & amendment process Protection of people’s liberties – Bill of Rights Disagreement over slavery – 3/5 Compromise Social contract theory, consent of the governed - We the people Direct democracy – vote for House & Senate

Key principles of the Enlightenment in US government include: Republic Consent of the governed Federalism Separation of Powers Checks/Balances House/Senate Tolerance Bill of Rights Rights of the Accused Purpose of government Patents/Copyrights Freedom of Religion Direct Democracy (House elections)