mr. ermer world history miami beach senior high. enlightenment ideals influence revolutionaries ...
TRANSCRIPT
The American Revolution
Mr. ErmerWorld History
Miami Beach Senior High
Enlightenment ideals influence revolutionaries Popular Sovereignty: political authority resides with people John Locke: Gov’t gets legitimacy from the people, individual rights
are paramount Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Same thoughts on legitimacy, but thinks
people act collectively due to past shared experiences Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations—Laissez-Faire Economics Rene Decartes, Cesare Baccaria, Francis Bacon
Counter Enlightenment breeds conservative & anti-democratic movements
Benjamin Franklin is standard barer for critics of Old World Enlightenment thinkers fight for personal freedoms, popular
sovereignty, and “equality” This equality did not extend to women, slaves, children, peasants,
laborers, or non-whites
The Enlightenment & Revolution
Two policies upset American colonists:
Britain raises taxes on its N. Amer. colonies to mitigate war debt and any future military expenses to defend colonies The Stamp Act of 1765
Britain closes western frontier from colonial settlement Sons of Liberty—New English activist organization
Boycotts cut British imports by 2/3 Parliament cuts taxes Upsets colonists by granting tea monopoly to British E.
India Co. Boston Tea Party & Boston Massacre
Rebellion In British N.A.
Revolution In The Air
1774: First Continental Congress, Philly 1775: Fighting begins at Lexington 1776: Second Continental Congress declares
independence, Thomas Jefferson Continental Army unorganized
1775: First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
Fighting erupts in New England (Lexington & Concord) Assumes power of gov., raises army, issues currency George Washington chosen to lead army
Declaration of Independence Many European powers see helping Americans as way to spite British
France: arms, money, officers for training; king recognizes the United States (1778)
Spain & The Netherlands also offer support 1781: General Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington
at Yorktown 1783: Treaty of Paris ends war, establishes an independent American
state Constitutional Convention establishes a republic based on
Enlightenment ideals
The American Revolution
On page 287, write and answer questions 1-5.
Chapter 15, Lesson 4: