PHILOSOPHICAL Foundations of the American Revolution [APUSH Review Unit 3 Topic 4 (3.4)] Period 3

Main Ideas and Concepts

• Colonial Attitudes Before the Revolution
  • Colonial delegates initially approached the British Parliament as loyal subjects seeking redress, not revolution.
  • The desire for liberty grew out of increasing legislative tyranny from Britain, leading to a shift in attitudes.
• Influence of Enlightenment Thinkers
  • The Enlightenment provided the philosophical foundation for colonial resistance against British authority.
  • Key Enlightenment figures and their ideas include:
    • John Locke
      • Government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.
      • Natural rights (life, liberty, property) are inherent and cannot be taken away by the government.
      • Advocated for self-rule through elected representatives.
    • Jean-Jacques Rousseau
      • Proposed the concept of a social contract where the government must protect the people's natural rights.
      • Laws not consented to by the people are deemed invalid.
    • Baron de Montesquieu
      • Suggested a separation of powers within government to prevent tyranny, advocating for three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
• Shift in Sentiment Leading to Revolution
  • Despite initial loyalty to Britain, sentiments began to shift significantly by 1776.
  • The publication of Common Sense by Thomas Paine played a pivotal role in galvanizing public support for independence.
    • Paine's work articulated the desire for independence in accessible language and drew on Enlightenment principles.
  • The Second Continental Congress eventually led to the drafting and adoption of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, which echoed Enlightenment ideas.

Methodology/Instructions

• Understanding the Shift in Colonial Attitudes
  • Recognize the initial loyalty of colonists to Britain and their hope for reconciliation.
  • Identify the key Enlightenment thinkers and their contributions to revolutionary thought.
  • Analyze how public sentiment changed through influential writings, particularly Thomas Paine's Common Sense.
• Key Steps in the Revolutionary Process
  1. Engagement with British Authority: Colonists petitioned for rights as loyal subjects.
  2. Rising Discontent: Increased legislative control by Britain led to a desire for liberty.
  3. Influence of Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu shaped colonial thought.
  4. Paine's Common Sense: This pamphlet crystallized the call for independence among the masses.
  5. Declaration of Independence: The formal Declaration of Independence was drafted and adopted, marking a definitive break from Britain.

Speakers/Sources Featured

• Heimler (the presenter of the video)
• John Locke (philosopher)
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (philosopher)
• Baron de Montesquieu (philosopher)
• Thomas Paine (author of Common Sense)
• Thomas Jefferson (author of the Declaration of Independence)
• John Adams (commented on Common Sense)