The ideas given by the Enlightenment thinkers, had a major influence on the American Revolution, in ways that leaders would pursue freedom of speech, equality, freedom of press, and religious tolerance, resulting in a more united lifestyle;
By adrianav24
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Thesis Continued
similar to how people today have a freedom of their own beliefs. -
Scientific Revolution
"By the early eighteenth century, expanding scientific and philosophical horizons encouraged educated people to esteem science as the conqueror of superstition and ignorance and inevitably led them to question accepted Christian truths based on biblical revelation" (OurAmericanRevolution). The Scientific Revolution led to people questioning their beliefs. This led them to turn against their rulers who they believed had a close connection with their gods. -
Locke
“Thomas Jefferson used the thoughts first penned by John Locke while writing the Declaration of Independence" (Constution facts). John Locke’s idea that everyone is born with “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” influenced others but most importantly influenced the leaders in the American Revolution. He made sure that the government protects those natural rights. His idea helped to create the conditions for the American Revolution and the subsequent Constitution. -
Voltaire 2
American colonists did not have these rights, as a result, they rebelled against England for independence which led to a cause of the revolution. -
Voltaire
“Revolutionaries were drawn from all religious camps and most of them shared a common commitment to freedom of religion. Most— though certainly not all—revolutionaries, however, fought not for religious freedom for all, but rather for their particular sects or denominations" (Harvard). Voltaire's idea that everyone had the freedom of religion and speech seemed to impact the revolution greatly. -
Montesquieu
“Montesquieu wrote that the main purpose of government is to maintain law and order, political liberty, and the property of the individual" (Medium). Montesquieu's views and studies of governments led him to believe that government corruption could happen if a system of government didn't include a balance of powers. He came up with the idea of separating government authority into the three major branches we see today: executive, legislative and judicial. -
Rousseau
“The problem in the state of nature, Rousseau said, was to find a way to protect everyone’s life, liberty, and property while each person remained free" (CRF). Rousseau impacted the government deeply. His idea of the social contract and of individual rights was very important. It was a cause that started the American Revolution. Everyone felt a lot more powerful and safe to be able to make decisions that would impact the government as well. -
French and Indian War Results 2
The colonists wanted to keep their rights of “life, liberty, and happiness. To be able to do that they had to protest and get their rights back -
French and Indian War Results
“The war provided Great Britain enormous territorial gains in North America, but disputes over subsequent frontier policy and paying the war’s expenses led to colonial discontent, and ultimately to the American Revolution" (History State). Before the French and Indian war, England let most of the colonies rule themselves as long as they received material. After the war, it all changed. The government wanted to make them pay for their debt. -
Acts
“Britain established the Townshend Acts in 1767. The acts were resisted through violence, deliberate refusal to pay, and hostility toward British agents. It imposed the Sugar Act in 1764, and, one year later, it added the Stamp Act. Colonists protested the added taxes. The Stamp Act was repealed" (Britannica). After the war, Britain began passing acts to get the colonists to pay for the debt they owed. They passed many acts to get them to pay taxes on their goods. -
Acts 2
They repealed against Britain and refused to pay. Locke’s idea comes into play because they could have chosen a different government because they were trying to overpower them. -
Boston Massacre
“The Boston Massacre helped spark the colonists' desire for American independence, while the dead rioters became martyrs for liberty" (American Library). Rousseau might have impacted the colonies into the Boston Massacre. They had the freedom of speech to be able to protest and riot. What started as a minor fight became a turning point in the beginnings of the American Revolution. Leading to many houses in flames and many men dead. -
Boston Tea Party
“After December 1773, when a band of Bostonians dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party, an outraged Parliament passed a series of measures (known as the Intolerable, or Coercive Acts) designed to reassert imperial authority in Massachusetts" (History). The Boston Tea Party caused many damages to property and affected the British government. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
“The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, the famous ‘shot heard ‘round the world’, marked the start of the American War of Independence"(National Army Museum). After so much struggle the colonies had to go through they were going to go into battle with Britain. They were determined to fight back to get back their full independence. This would be followed by all states agreeing on rules that were influenced by the enlightenment thinkers. -
Works Cited 1
“Battles of Lexington and Concord.” National Army Museum, www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-lexington-and-concord#:~:text=The%20Battles%20of%20Lexington%20and,support%20the%20cause%20of%20independence. Boston Massacre, www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_boston_3.html#:~:text=The%20event%20in%20Boston%20helped,rioters%20became%20martyrs%20for%20liberty. -
Works Cited 2
“The Boston Tea Party.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-tea-party. “BRIA 20 2 c Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau on Government.” Constitutional Rights Foundation, www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-government.html. -
Works Cited 3
“Causes and Effects of the American Revolution.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/summary/Causes-and-Effects-of-the-American-Revolution. “Faith and Reason.” The American Revolution, www.ouramericanrevolution.org/index.cfm/page/view/p0204. -
Works Cited 4
Montesquieu, Baron de. “Montesquieu's Impact.” Medium, Medium, 29 Apr. 2016, medium.com/@arcidiacol/when-the-legislative-and-executive-powers-are-united-there-can-be-no-liberty-b36691eb11e0. The Pluralism Project, 2020, Enlightenment and Revolution, hwpi.harvard.edu/files/pluralism/files/enlightenment_and_revolution_0.pdf. -
Works Cited 5
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war#:~:text=The%20French%20and%20Indian%20War%20began%20in%201754%20and%20ended,ultimately%20to%20the%20American%20Revolution. “Voices of the Revolution: Two Great Thinkers.” Constitution Facts - Official U.S. Constitution Website, www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/two-great-thinkers/.