Modern World History American Revolution

The Seven Years’ War

A global conflict between Great Britain and France, along with their allies, that began in 1754 in North America as the French and Indian War it went across Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and India, with Britain ultimately becoming the dominant global power

Succession Issues one of the causes of the Seven Years’ War

Charles VI had issued, a legal document intended to ensure that all his throne would pass intact to his daughter, Maria Theresa, since he had no male heir several European powers broke their word upon Charles VI's death, to seize territories primary antagonist: Frederick II of Prussia who invaded and seized the wealthy Austrian province of Silesia shortly after Maria Theresa took the throne since he didn’t like having a female ruler

French and Indian War

It put France, French colonists, and their Native American allies against Great Britain, British colonists, and the Iroquois Confederacy primary cause: struggle for control of the Ohio River Valley native American tribes caught between the two powers and allied with both sides though many sided with France British won but were severely in debt after the war

Proclamation Act

It was a decree intended to stabilize relations with Native American tribes, regulate colonial expansion, and organize Britain's new territories in North America

Mercantilism

It was a system driven by the belief that a nation's power was directly linked to its wealth, particularly its reserves of gold and silver

Salutary Neglect

An unofficial British policy in the 17th and 18th centuries of loosely enforcing laws and trade regulations in its American colonies as long as the colonies remained loyal

John Locke and Natural Rights

Believed all humans have the right to life, liberty, and property, people have a responsibility for others not to intrude on their natural rights, and the purpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights

Montesquieu

Believed that the power of the government should be separated

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

This shows how the government is separated between three branches to keep the government balanced and how the branches can keep each other in check

Thomas Jefferson

an American Founding Father, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third president of the United States. A man of the Enlightenment he took John Locke’s ideas of life, liberty, and property and turned it into life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

Boycott

An act of voluntarily refusing to purchase, use, or participate in the goods, services, or activities of a person, organization, or country

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization of American colonists protesting British taxation and tyranny comprised of men from a variety of social classes, using intimidation, threats, public protests, and propaganda to undermine British rule and push for colonial rights

Boston Massacre

A confrontation on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers in Boston fired into a crowd of American colonists, killing five people the event escalated from a street brawl, became a cause for Patriots and fueled the growing rebellions that led to the American Revolution

Other Causes of American Revolution

• Lack of representation

• Denial of basic rights

  • Writs of Assistance: Search warrants allowing British officials to search homes and businesses for smuggled goods without probable cause

  • Quartering Act: Colonists provide housing and supplies for British troops

Jean Jacques Rousseau

People are naturally born good but can be corrupted by society, people should be governed at their own general will and can rule themselves, and all people are equal and all titles of nobility

Rousseau’s Social Contract

Argues for a form of political association where people surrender their individual freedom to the collective "general will" to create a legitimate government.

Declaration of Independence

The formal statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document outlines the philosophical principles behind the separation and lists grievances against King George III

King George III

Reigned over Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 until his death, known for his long 60-year rule, he is most remembered in America for his role in the Revolutionary War, and for suffering from recurrent mental illness later in life

No taxation without Representation

The colonists felt that they were being taxed without being represented in Parliament and like they had no voice in the government at all

Federalism (Federalist System)

A system of government where the power is divided between the national government and the state government

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, outlines the nation's framework of government and the fundamental rights of its citizens, replaced the Articles of Confederation the Constitution is divided into a Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments

Executive Branch

Responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress this branch includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, and various federal agencies, departments, and commissions. 

Legislative Branch

The part of the U.S. government that makes laws. It is known as Congress and is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate

Judicial Branch

Responsible for interpreting the laws of the nation and resolving legal disputes, serves as an independent body that ensures laws are applied fairly and in line with constitutional principles

Bill of Rights

Comprises the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution these amendments guarantee specific individual freedoms, limit the power of the federal government, and reserve undelegated powers to the states or the people

Lockes influence on DOI

The Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, reflects the ideas of English philosopher

• Natural rights

• Consent of the governed

• Right of revolution

Six principles of the U.S. constitution

• Popular Sovereignty:

  The people hold the ultimate power and authority over the government. 

• Limited Government:

  The government's power is not absolute but is restricted and defined by the Constitution. 

• Separation of Powers:

  The federal government's powers are divided among three distinct branches: the legislative (makes laws), the executive (enforces laws), and the judicial (interprets laws). 

• Checks and Balances:

  Each branch of government has the power to limit or influence the other branches, preventing any single branch from becoming too dominant. 

• Judicial Review:

  The power of the judicial branch to review laws and actions of the government to determine if they are consistent with the Constitution. 

• Federalism:

  The division of power between the national (federal) government and the state governments. 

How many grieveances were in the DOI?

27

Stamp act

A British law passed in 1765 that imposed a direct tax on the American colonies, requiring that most printed materials be produced on officially stamped paper this was the first act and started the rebellion

Boston tea party

A political protest that occurred on December 16, 1773, in Boston, Massachusetts, in which American colonists dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor to protest British taxation policies colonists were mad because of the tea act of 1773

Intolerable acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 following the Boston Tea Party there was five acts the Boston Port Act (March 31, 1774), Massachusetts Government Act (May 20, 1774), Administration of Justice Act (May 20, 1774), Quartering Act (June 2, 1774), and Quebec Act (June 22, 1774)

What was Maria Theresa ruler of?

Austria

What was Fredrick II the ruler of?

Prussia

Proclamation of 1763

A royal decree issued by King George III following Great Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War the proclamation established a boundary line in the Appalachian Mountains that prohibited American colonists from settling on lands to the west

Montesquieu’s influence on U.S. constitution

The U.S. Constitution and its system of governance were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideas, particularly the French political philosopher 

• Separation of powers

• Checks and balances

• Limited government

Cesare Beccaria’s influence on 8th amendment

He believed no torture and unusual punishments and that what the 8th amendment states

Mary Wollstonecraft’s influence on amendment 19

She believed women should be allowed to be apart in the government and 19 states citizens shall not be denied the right to vote because of sex

Voltaire’s influence on amendment 1

Significantly influenced the principles behind the First Amendment, particularly freedom of speech and religion, through his advocacy for individual liberties and criticism of established authority. His work was widely read by American Founding Fathers, such as James Madison, who drafted the Bill of Rights