Chapter 2, Section 3 NotesBirth of the American Republic

• Essential Question: How did ideas of the Enlightenment lead to the independence and founding of the United States of America?

Britain Becomes a Global Power

At the time of the American Revolution, Britain was a world superpower. It had begun to build its

empire and already controlled trade with much of North America, the West Indies, and India.

George III came to power in 1760 and was determined to assert his control.

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Witness History Audio: Paine’s Common Sense

Color Transparency 103: The Election II—Canvassing for Votes by William Hogarth

Note Taking Transparency 122

The 13 Colonies in the Mid-1700s

In Britain’s American colonies, economic life was booming by 1750. Although Britain tried to

regulate trade and other aspects of life in the colonies, there was a sense of semi-independence

on the part of the colonists, who tried to control their own affairs.

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Geography Interactive: The Original Thirteen Colonies

Colonists Express Discontent

When King George III imposed taxes on the colonies to help pay for wars, the colonists rebelled.

Tensions escalated and finally broke out into war. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas about the

natural rights of man and the right to revolt against an unjust government, the Second

Continental Congress declared independence from Britain.

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Witness History Audio: The Declaration of Independence

Color Transparency 106: Tarring and Feathering Under the Liberty Tree

The American Revolution Continues

With their passion, with their knowledge of the countryside, and with help from France, the

Netherlands, and Spain, the colonists defeated the British. The Treaty of Paris ended the war and

recognized the independent United States of America.

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Witness History Video: The Enlightenment and the American Revolution

A New Constitution

When the Articles of Confederation proved too weak to establish effective government, some of the

nation’s leaders drafted the Constitution based on Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Montesquieu,

and Rousseau. The new government would recognize some basic rights of the people and

establish three branches of government to create checks and balances. This document served

as a model for constitutions created by other countries.

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Color Transparency 104: Enlightenment Thinkers

History Interactive: Roots of American Democracy

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Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights would later be added to the constitution in an attempt to appease the anti-

Federalists who wanted a guarantee that individual and states’ rights were included in this new

government. These amendments were made to protect the rights of individual citizens.

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Global Effect

“We, the Japanese people, acting through our duly elected representatives in the national Diet,

determined that we shall secure for ourselves and our posterity the fruits of peaceful cooperation

with all nations and the blessings of liberty throughout this land…” (The Japanese Constitution

borrowed ideas from the U.S. Constitution)

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Review for Standard 10.1 Test

Greek Review

• One of the most important long-term Greek contributions to western thought is found in government and law.

• Athenians believed in direct democracy (every individual citizen gets to make decisions)

• Aristotle said that the ideal state would have a Constitution written by lawgivers and administered by politicians. (Separation of Powers)

Rule of Law

Citizens of every class must adhere to the law.

Roman Review

• Rome=Republic=Representatives• One of Rome’s greatest legacies to the modern world

was the idea that laws should be written down and apply equally to all citizens. (The Twelve Tables)

• They were polytheists (belief in more than one god)

Judaism Review

• Holy Book: Torah

• The Israelites were monotheistic, meaning they believed in one God

• The Ten Commandments (a set of individual conduct rules)

• There was an emphasis on individual conscience and monotheism.

Christianity Review

• Holy Book: Bible

• The Ten Commandments helped establish a moral and ethical code for Judeo-Christian individuals that became part of democratic governments.

• Jesus emphasized individual conscience and monotheism and that man’s duty is to God.