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Analyzes the colonial grievances and Enlightenment influences that led to the American struggle for independence.
Imagine being forced to pay for your neighbor's house repairs while having zero say in how the money is spent or who makes the rules. How far would you go to reclaim your voice—and would you risk your life to do it?
Following the Seven Years' War (1754–1763), Great Britain emerged victorious but deeply in debt. To recoup costs, Parliament shifted from a policy of 'salutary neglect' to active intervention. They believed the colonies should pay for the British troops stationed for their protection. This led to the Stamp Act of 1765, the first direct tax on internal colonial goods. The colonists didn't just hate the cost; they hated the precedent. Since they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament, they argued that any tax levied upon them was a violation of their rights as Englishmen. This gave birth to the famous rallying cry: 'No Taxation Without Representation!'
To understand the scale of the crisis, consider the British national debt after the war: 1. Before the war, the debt was approximately . 2. By the end of the war in 1763, it skyrocketed to roughly . 3. The British government attempted to close this gap by taxing colonial trade, which the colonists viewed as an illegal seizure of property.
Quick Check
Why did the colonists believe the Stamp Act was illegal?
Answer
Because they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament to consent to the taxes.
The Revolution wasn't just fought with muskets; it was fought with ideas. Colonial leaders like Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were students of the Enlightenment, a movement emphasizing reason over tradition. They were heavily influenced by John Locke, who argued that all humans possess Natural Rights: Life, Liberty, and Property. Locke proposed a Social Contract, where people agree to be governed only so long as the government protects these rights. If a government becomes tyrannical, the people have a moral obligation to overthrow it. This shifted the view of the King from a 'divinely appointed ruler' to a 'servant of the people' who had failed his job.
How did the colonists apply Locke's logic to King George III? 1. Premise: A legitimate government must protect natural rights. 2. Evidence: The King closed colonial legislatures and taxed without consent. 3. Conclusion: The Social Contract was broken; therefore, the colonies were legally free to form a new government.
Quick Check
According to the Social Contract, what is the source of a government's power?
Answer
The consent of the governed (the people).
In July 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, this document was more than a 'break-up letter' to King George III; it was a formal legal brief to the world. It established the principle of Popular Sovereignty—the idea that government power comes from the people. The document is divided into three main parts: a statement of human rights, a long list of grievances (complaints) against the King, and a formal declaration of war. By signing it, the founders were committing treason, punishable by death, to establish a nation based on an idea rather than bloodline.
The Declaration lists 27 specific grievances. Let's categorize them: 1. Economic: 'For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.' 2. Legal: 'For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.' 3. Political: 'He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly.' By documenting these, Jefferson proved that the Revolution was a 'last resort' after all peaceful petitions were ignored.
Which event most directly led to the British Parliament's decision to tax the American colonies?
Which Enlightenment thinker's ideas about 'Life, Liberty, and Property' are most evident in the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence was primarily a list of suggestions for how King George III could improve his rule.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list the three 'Natural Rights' mentioned by Locke and explain how the 'Social Contract' justifies a revolution.
Practice Activity
Find a copy of the Declaration of Independence online and look at the 'List of Grievances.' Try to find one grievance that relates to taxes and one that relates to the legal system.