6.4 The American 6.4 The American RevolutionRevolution

Enlightenment ideas help Enlightenment ideas help spur the American colonies to spur the American colonies to shed British rule and create a shed British rule and create a

new nation.new nation.

Learning TargetsLearning Targets

Explain the causes of the American Revolution

Describe the Enlightenment ideas that are found in the American Revolution

Summarize the enlightenment ideas that are present in the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights

Discuss the structure of the U.S. government and show its connections to Enlightenment ideas

Write a response in your Write a response in your notesnotes

What do you like about our What do you like about our government?government?

What do you not like about our What do you not like about our government?government? Think about our government in Think about our government in

comparison to the some of the other comparison to the some of the other ones we talked about…ones we talked about…

Britain and Its American Britain and Its American ColoniesColonies

The American Colonies GrowThe American Colonies Grow American colonies grow large and American colonies grow large and

populous during the 1600s and 1700spopulous during the 1600s and 1700s Colonies thrive economically through Colonies thrive economically through

trade with Europetrade with Europe Britain’s Navigation Act restricts that trade Britain’s Navigation Act restricts that trade

(1651)(1651) Other trade laws add restrictions and taxesOther trade laws add restrictions and taxes

Colonists identify less and less as Colonists identify less and less as British subjectsBritish subjects

Write a response in your Write a response in your notesnotes

What do you think are the benefits of What do you think are the benefits of being a colony of Britain at this being a colony of Britain at this time?time?

What are the drawbacks of being What are the drawbacks of being part of Britain at this time?part of Britain at this time?

Americans Win Americans Win IndependenceIndependence

British-Colonial Tensions AriseBritish-Colonial Tensions Arise Britain and American colonies win the Britain and American colonies win the

French and Indian War in 1763French and Indian War in 1763 Britain taxes colonists to help pay the Britain taxes colonists to help pay the

war debtswar debts Colonists argue that British cannot tax Colonists argue that British cannot tax

them without their consentthem without their consent

Growing Hostility Leads to WarGrowing Hostility Leads to War Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston

Tea Party” in (1773)Tea Party” in (1773) Colonists meet in Philadelphia to Colonists meet in Philadelphia to

address British policies (1774)address British policies (1774) British and Americans exchange fire at British and Americans exchange fire at

Lexington and Concord in (1775)Lexington and Concord in (1775)

The Influence of the EnlightenmentThe Influence of the Enlightenment Colonial leaders push for independence, Colonial leaders push for independence,

rely on Enlightenment ideasrely on Enlightenment ideas Declaration of Independence—Declaration of Independence—

document justifying colonial rebelliondocument justifying colonial rebellion Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Leader Thomas Jefferson writes

Declaration, uses ideas of John LockeDeclaration, uses ideas of John Locke

““We hold these truths to be self-We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain their Creator with certain unalienable [natural] rights, that unalienable [natural] rights, that among these are life, liberty and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”the pursuit of happiness”

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

Success for the ColonistsSuccess for the Colonists Despite British military might, colonists Despite British military might, colonists

have advantages:have advantages: Motivating cause of freedomMotivating cause of freedom French assistanceFrench assistance War’s expense for BritainWar’s expense for Britain

British surrender at Yorktown in 1781; British surrender at Yorktown in 1781; colonists win the warcolonists win the war

Americans Create a Americans Create a RepublicRepublic

A Weak National GovernmentA Weak National Government Articles of Confederation set Articles of Confederation set

government plan for new republicgovernment plan for new republic Articles create legislature only, no Articles create legislature only, no

executive or judicial branchesexecutive or judicial branches Result is weak national government Result is weak national government

that fails to provide unity and orderthat fails to provide unity and order

Americans Create a Americans Create a RepublicRepublic

A New ConstitutionA New Constitution Leaders call Constitutional Convention Leaders call Constitutional Convention

in 1787 to revise articlesin 1787 to revise articles Group instead creates a new Group instead creates a new

government under U.S. Constitutiongovernment under U.S. Constitution Constitution contains many political Constitution contains many political

ideas of the Enlightenmentideas of the Enlightenment

Enlightenment Ideas and Enlightenment Ideas and the Constitutionthe Constitution

Americans Create a Americans Create a RepublicRepublic

The Federal SystemThe Federal System Constitution creates three branches of Constitution creates three branches of

governmentgovernment Provides checks and balances—ensures branches Provides checks and balances—ensures branches

share power equallyshare power equally Promotes federal system—power divided Promotes federal system—power divided

between nation and statesbetween nation and states The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

Some fear too much national power, few Some fear too much national power, few protections of rightsprotections of rights

Leaders win support for Constitution by adding a Leaders win support for Constitution by adding a Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Ten amendments to Constitution that protect freedomsTen amendments to Constitution that protect freedoms

Write a response in your notes

Look over page 209 in your book entitled “Democracy”

Answer the following questions What are the two key components of the

American democracy that are mentioned? How has the number of eligible voters in this

country changed? How many (what percentage) of American

voters actually voted in the 2000 election? Why do you think the number it is so low/high?

Do you think voting should be required by law? Why or why not?