American Revolution By 1750 British Empire included 13 colonies along the Eastern coast of North America. In 1776, the colonies declared their independence from Britain. The French, Dutch and Spanish forces helped the American forces defeat the British. *In their struggle, the colonists were inspired by Enlightenment ideas. The theories of thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau helped inspire the colonists to a Revolution.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Influenced by Enlightenment ideas about a limited, representative government. He wrote in his pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ that the colonists should no longer be the subjects of a distant monarch. Paine appealed to reason and natural laws. *His ideas were widely read in the colonies in The Declaration of Independence Influenced by Locke and other Enlightenment Thinkers.

The Constitution Also influenced by the Enlightenment thinkers Rousseau (Social Contract with government) Montesquieu (Separation of Powers) Locke (Protection of Rights) Impact of the American Revolution America stood as symbol of freedom to both Europe and Latin America. U.S. created the most liberal government of its time. Other nations would copy the ideas in this government. Success soon inspires global changes as other people challenge the power of absolute monarchs.