The American Revolution Causes, Enlightenment, & Key Figures

REVIEW Revolutions follow a general pattern Preliminary Stage – Problems with Old Regime 1st Stage – Moderates peacefully take over 2nd Stage – Radicals violently take over 3rd Stage – Nation recovers & begins to grow

ESSENTIAL QUESTION What were the political causes of the American Revolution? How did Enlightenment ideas influence the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

Origins American colonists were citizens of Britain Entitled to rights English citizens received Magna Carta English Civil War Glorious Revolution English Bill of Rights

Origins Colonists protected from French & Indian attacks – Britain defeated French during French & Indian War France forced to surrender control of Canada Colonists no longer feared invasion, hoped to expand westward

Taxes & Liberty Britain ran up debt during French & Indian War, taxed colonists to help pay it off Colonists objected to taxes – Taxes created without their consent; violation of their rights as English citizens Colonists favored self-government, British Parliament felt they controlled colonists

Enlightenment & Revolution Church – Ministers delivered sermons criticizing British government Legacy of Glorious Revolution – Demonstrated English citizens could overthrow oppressive ruler Enlightenment Ideals – Writers made colonists think “Taxation without representation” was unjust

Enlightenment & Revolution Britain sent troops to prevent unrest Eliminated most taxes, insisted on taxing tea Boston Tea Party – Colonists disguised as Indians dumped a shipload of tea into harbor

Enlightenment & Revolution Boston Massacre (1775) – 1st violence of Revolution between colonists & British Enlightenment writers said colonies should be independent due to distance from Britain French sided with colonies after persuasion, and wanted revenge for French & Indian War

Constitutional Convention After winning independence they sent representatives to Constitutional Convention Wanted to create strong government, but not strong enough to threaten liberties Constitution created system with power divided between national & state government Created 3 branches (Legislative, Executive, & Judicial) to divide power

Constitutional Convention Checks & Balances (each branch has to approve decisions made by other branch) created to keep 1 branch from becoming too powerful Bill of Rights (1st 10 Amendments) added to protect individual liberties Ultimate power rested with citizens

Major Figures Thomas Pain – English Writer – Published Common Sense – Colonies should be independent Lafayette (French) & Kosciuszko (Poland) Volunteers that persuaded France to support the colonists John Locke – English Writer – Power comes from the people