THE ENLIGHTENMENT: How did something that happened in the 1700s in England make America want to break free? Philosophical movement led by great thinkers in Europe between 1680s - 1780s The age of reason: question everything! Focus on the importance of a strong state balanced with rights of individuals

THOMAS HOBBES England 1588-1679 Before government, we lived in a state of nature “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short” Social contract theory: people give up some rights to the state for security Absolute central lawmaking authority needed

“There is no power on earth to be compared with him” - Book of Job Crosier: staff carried by Catholic leaders Earthly Powers Cannon Weapons Battlefield Powers of Church Excommunication Logic Religious courts

JOHN LOCKE England 1632 – 1704 Social contract creates limited government Government exists only to protect natural rights: life, liberty, property Government relies on consent of the people; if gov fails to protect rights, people should overthrow it

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU France 1712 – 1778 Sovereignty should be in the hands of the people Classical republicanism: gov should be made of small groups of the people to enforce the general will

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU France 1689 - 1755 Government’s powers should be separated into three parts: legislative, executive, judicial Each part should be separate from but also dependent on the other two parts

VOLTAIRE France 1694 - 1778 Writer & poet who was censored and exiled by the French nobility and arrested just for being a threat Argued for freedom of speech & religion and the right to a fair trial

The Road to Revolution: (1763-1776)

Battle Over Land 1754: French & Indian War over Ohio River valley 1763: Proclamation (colonists not allowed to go west of Appalachian mountains

British Need Money! 1764: Sugar Act 1765: Quartering Act First law to raise $ for Crown Anyone accused of violating tried in new court without jury 1765: Quartering Act Colonists had to provide food/shelter for British troops 1765: Stamp Act Tax on documents Wills, newspapers, playing cards, marriage licenses Colonists boycott British items “no taxation without….” Parliament repeals in 1766

1765: Townshend Act Tax on imports from Britain: glass, paint, paper, TEA Colonists boycott British items again Later repealed except for tea tax

The Boston Massacre (1770

1773 Tea Act British East India Co.: Facing bankruptcy Many members of Parl. held shares. Permitted the British East India Co. to sell tea directly to cols. without taxes Colonial sellers would lose profits

Boston Tea Party: 18,000 pounds of tea!

1774: The Intolerable Acts Port Act closed Boston harbor Government Act restricted town meetings 3. New Quartering Act Administration of Justice Act sent trials to England

First Continental Congress Agenda  How to respond to the Intolerable Acts? 1 vote per colony Petitions to Parliament Stockpiling Weapons

April 18, 1775: The British Are Coming Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of 700 approaching British soldiers.

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World Lexington & Concord – April 19,1775

Declaration of Independence