1. 9/11 Focus:
Great Britain’s 13 colonies in North America, inspired by Enlightenment ideas, declared their independence in 1776.
Do Now:
What was an enlightened despot?

2. Political Revolutions
The American Revolution

4. Influence of the Enlightenment
Inspired British colonists to oppose British policies in the 13 colonies
Locke
Montesquieu
Rousseau
Voltaire

5. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Pamphlet urging colonists to break away from British monarchy
Used reason and natural law to make case
Influenced by Enlightenment ideas about limited government

6. The Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Enlightenment ideas
Governments only rule with the consent of the people
Governments should protect the “unalienable” rights of the people
People have a right to overthrow governments that don’t protect these rights

7. The Constitution
Document that established the government of the United States in 1787
Influences from Social Contract
“We the People”

8. The Constitution Separation of Powers
Created a republic with powers divided between federal government and states
Divided federal powers between three branches of gov’t
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Checks and Balances

9. The Constitution
Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of American citizens
First 10 amendments to the Constitution
27 amendments
Protect rights such as freedom of Speech and religion
Duty of the government to protect these rights

10. Symbol of Freedom Constitution model for new gov’ts French Revolution
Impact of the American Revolution
Symbol of Freedom
Inspired other Revolutions
Latin American Revolutions

11. The French Revolution Revolution breaks out in France in 1789
Many injustices existed in France before the Revolution

12. Absolute Monarchy Enlightenment Ideas Economic Problems
Causes of the French Revolution
Inspiration from the American Revolution
Social Inequalities

13. Closure
Identify one document from British history that influenced the American colonists in their struggle for independence.
Identify one enlightenment idea that inspired the American Revolution and the founders of the United States of America.