IndependenceUnit 2.2

Enlightenment Philosophers

Thomas Hobbes Need for Gov’t – “Beastly Nature”

Baron De Montesquieu Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances

Voltaire “freedoms” – intellectual, speech, religion (against state

religion) John Locke

Natural Rights. What are they? Two Treatises on Civil Government

Jean Jacques Rousseau Wrote Social Contract – People and Gov’t have contract

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson

Philosophy of John Locke Rights are derived from the people’s

basic moral sense supersede the authority of the government

Consent of the Governed Limited Government Natural rights are superior to a

government Life, Liberty, and Property

Natural Rights

Wrote Common Sense◦ Essay widely read by the people◦ Urged colonies to break away and form new country◦ A new breed of “American”

Would later write The American Crisis pamphlets which would encourage the Americans to continue the fight.

Thomas Paine

Dominion of New England Albany Plan of Union Stamp Act Congress 1st Continental Congress 2nd Continental Congress

Road to Unity

Meet in Philadelphia State House President of Congress – John Hancock

Some early events: Olive Branch Petition

◦ What did the King do with it? Declaration of the Causes and

Necessity of Taking up Arms◦ Who wrote this?

2nd Continental Congress

Declaration is proposed by Richard Henry Lee

Committee of Five to write it: Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Sherman, and Livingston

Jefferson actually wrote most of it. Or did he?

“Remember the Ladies” – Abigail Adams

What issues would cause problems in the passing of the Declaration?

Committee of Five

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Also called Tories Why would someone be a loyalist?

Respect for the King “order” and law (no mob rule / mobcracy) Family ties Worker for crown (or Church of Eng) Part of great(est) country Thought Britain would win Rich

But how is the American Revolution different than most other revolutions in world history?

Loyalists

Patriots was the name for people who supported independence.◦ What did the King call

them?◦ About what fraction were

Patriots? Loyalists? Then what were the others?

Why?

What about these groups of people?◦ Quakers◦ Native Americans◦ Slaves◦ Canadians◦ Floridians

Patriots and others groups

-Did George Washington have anything to gain financially with independence? Daniel Boone – Wilderness Road – Kentucky George Rogers Clark victories at Ft.

Kaskaskia and Ft. Vincennes in 1778 and 1779- How would these two minor battles be so

important for American History in the future?

Western Lands and their relationship to the independence drive

How did the European Enlightenment writers influence the independence movement?

Why was Thomas Paine important for the independence movement?

Why would someone oppose the independence of the colonies?

How do the western lands figure into the independence movement and the future of the United States?

Reflection Questions

http://soomopublishing.com/declaration/index.html - Too late to apologize

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du8ultITS5A&list=UUZYs757tACChkS-vjS1m66Q&index=1&feature=plcp – Review Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcYiLWEAXYo&feature=related – PP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSeCYSnj5Y – School House Rock Fireworks

Links