CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
War
Seven Year’s War
A war in Europe between
Great Britain and France
In North America it was called the French and
Indian (British) War. They fought for control of the colonies.
Results:
Britain gained colonies
France lost colonies
George III
King of Britain
Imposed taxes on the
colonists to pay for the
war - Stamp Act
Americans complain:
“Taxation without Representation”
Complain about the economic system
of Mercantilism being forced on
them
American Revolution
American colonists claim independence from
British control – Cite John Locke
Start a “Constitutional
Republic” – republic in
form, democratic in
principle
We hold these 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.
THINKER
Locke
IDEA
Natural rights
USE
Declaration of
Independence – Life,
Liberty, Pursuit of
Happiness”
Abolish Tyrannical
Government
THINKER
Montesquieu
IDEA
Separation of powers
USE
President
Congress
Supreme
Court
THINKER
Voltaire
IDEA
Free Speech
USE
Bill of Rights –
“Shall make no
Laws. . . ”
THINKER
Adam Smith
IDEA
Law of Supply
and Demand
USE
Capitalism
and Free
Enterprise
THINKER
Rousseau
IDEA
Consent of the People
USE
Democracy
• Analyzing Causes What development in the Scientific Revolution contributed
most to the Enlightenment?
• Drawing Conclusions How did Enlightenment ideas lead to the American
Revolution?
• Forming and Supporting Opinions How do the scientific method and
Enlightenment ideas affect life today?
• Analyzing Causes What development in the
Scientific Revolution contributed most to the
Enlightenment?
• Drawing Conclusions How did Enlightenment
ideas lead to the American Revolution?
• Forming and Supporting Opinions How do the
scientific method and Enlightenment ideas
affect life today?