5.2 and 5.3 Enlightenment and American Revolution

Enlightenment

a movement that emphasized science and reason as guides to help see the world more clearly

Age of Reason

Another name for the Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes

believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority

John Locke

English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights - life, liberty, and property

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

idea of the Social Contract and the importance of individual freedoms. Argued that the people and the government form a social contract. The people allow the government to have power over them, they consent to be governed.

Baron de Montesquieu

believed government should have separation of powers

Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Thomas Paine and Common Sense

stressed to the American people British wrong treatment of Americans and emphasize a need for revolution; appealed to American emotions

Continental Congress

A meeting of representatives of the Colonies. Drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Voltaire

He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.

Purpose of the Bill of Rights

Provide a list of individual rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

Stamp Act

Act passed by the British Parliament in 1756 that raised revenue from the American colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents

Absolute Monarchy

A government in which the king or queen has total power. Over all aspects of running the country

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain. Heavily influenced by enlightenment thinkers.

Laizzez-faire

idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs

Salons

Informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophers, and others exchanged ideas

Colonial reaction to the Stamp Act

Anger, Protest, Boycotts, Violence towards British officials. "No taxation without representation". IT WASN'T JUST THE MONEY, IT WAS THE PRINCIPLE

According to the ideas of the Enlightenment, the government should be influenced by_____

Reason, The Natural World

Treaty of Paris

(1783)TREATY THAT ENDED THE REVOLUTIONARY WARSET THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT UNITED STATES

Social Contract

People give up certain freedoms in exchange from protection from the government.