Section 3: Ideas behind the revolution

Ideas Behind the Ideas Behind the RevolutionRevolution

Chapter 4 – Section 3 Chapter 4 – Section 3

The RevolutionThe Revolution

On one level, the American Revolution was a On one level, the American Revolution was a struggle for power between the American struggle for power between the American colonists and Great Britain. The winner of this colonists and Great Britain. The winner of this struggle was to be decided on the battle field. struggle was to be decided on the battle field.

On another level, the Revolution was about On another level, the Revolution was about “ideas”. The colonists were rethinking the “ideas”. The colonists were rethinking the relationship between people and government. relationship between people and government. It was during the Revolution, and the years It was during the Revolution, and the years leading up to it, that Americans began to think leading up to it, that Americans began to think of themselves as independent citizens rather of themselves as independent citizens rather than subjects of a king. than subjects of a king.

Fighting at Lexington and Fighting at Lexington and ConcordConcord

King George labeled the Americans King George labeled the Americans “rebels” but the preferred “Patriots”. “rebels” but the preferred “Patriots”. After the Intolerable Acts, Massachusetts After the Intolerable Acts, Massachusetts followed the call of the 1followed the call of the 1stst Continental Continental Congress and formed militias and began Congress and formed militias and began to gather guns and ammunition. to gather guns and ammunition. A major stockpile of weapons was stored A major stockpile of weapons was stored in Concord, 20 miles from Boston. in Concord, 20 miles from Boston. On April 18On April 18thth, 1775, 800 British troops , 1775, 800 British troops moved out of Boston and marched moved out of Boston and marched toward Concord with orders to seize toward Concord with orders to seize these supplies. these supplies.


Boston Patriots learned of British plans and sent Boston Patriots learned of British plans and sent Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott on horseback through the countryside Prescott on horseback through the countryside to alert Patriot leaders. to alert Patriot leaders. Revere arrived in Lexington, about five miles Revere arrived in Lexington, about five miles from Concord, near midnight. from Concord, near midnight. The main British force reached Lexington around The main British force reached Lexington around dawn on April 19dawn on April 19thth where they encountered 70 where they encountered 70 armed “minutemen” on the village green.armed “minutemen” on the village green.The Patriots were ordered to throw down their The Patriots were ordered to throw down their weapons and started to obey but someone fired weapons and started to obey but someone fired a shot and the British fired a volley into the a shot and the British fired a volley into the militia. militia. Within minutes, 8 minutemen were dead and Within minutes, 8 minutemen were dead and another 10 were wounded. another 10 were wounded. http://www.schooltube.com/video/eec8702db88ehttp://www.schooltube.com/video/eec8702db88e04d47453/04d47453/


The British marched on the Concord where The British marched on the Concord where they destroyed they destroyed somesome of the Patriot supplies – of the Patriot supplies – most of the stockpile was hidden before the most of the stockpile was hidden before the British arrived. British arrived. As the British returned to Boston, 4,000 As the British returned to Boston, 4,000 Patriots gathered and fired at them from Patriots gathered and fired at them from behind trees and stone walls. behind trees and stone walls. More than 70 British soldiers were killed and More than 70 British soldiers were killed and 170 wounded before they reached Boston. 170 wounded before they reached Boston. 90 Patriots were either killed, wounded, or 90 Patriots were either killed, wounded, or missing and the Revolutionary War, a war for missing and the Revolutionary War, a war for American Independence, had begun. American Independence, had begun. ““Give me liberty or give me death” – Patrick Give me liberty or give me death” – Patrick HenryHenry

Common SenseCommon Sense

One important document that expressed both One important document that expressed both levels of the Revolution was levels of the Revolution was Common Sense, Common Sense, a a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It first appeared in Philadelphia in January 1776. It first appeared in Philadelphia in January 1776. He wrote in a simple and direct style, suggesting He wrote in a simple and direct style, suggesting that anyone could understand the conflict that anyone could understand the conflict between Great Britain and the colonies. between Great Britain and the colonies. The pamphlet persuaded many readers, The pamphlet persuaded many readers, including many who had favored a peaceful including many who had favored a peaceful settlement of differences with the British settlement of differences with the British government, to support a complete – and likely government, to support a complete – and likely violent – break with Great Britain instead. violent – break with Great Britain instead.

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

The Second Continental Congress gathered in The Second Continental Congress gathered in May 1775, less than a month after British troops May 1775, less than a month after British troops clashed with the Patriots at Lexington and clashed with the Patriots at Lexington and Concord, and it continued to meet throughout the Concord, and it continued to meet throughout the Revolution. Revolution. Most delegates of the 1Most delegates of the 1stst C.C. returned for the 2 C.C. returned for the 2ndnd but there were a few important newcomers – but there were a few important newcomers – Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson. At first the delegates were deeply divided – some At first the delegates were deeply divided – some favored independence, some favored a favored independence, some favored a compromise with British government that would compromise with British government that would increase colonial self-rule. increase colonial self-rule.


In November 1775, King George refused the 2In November 1775, King George refused the 2ndnd C.C.’s C.C.’s Olive Branch Petition – a document Olive Branch Petition – a document that expressed the colonists’ continued that expressed the colonists’ continued loyalty to the Crown and begged the king to loyalty to the Crown and begged the king to halt the fighting until a solution could be halt the fighting until a solution could be found.found.In June 1776, the Congress decided it was time to In June 1776, the Congress decided it was time to cut ties with Britain and appointed a committee cut ties with Britain and appointed a committee to prepare a statement of the reasons for the to prepare a statement of the reasons for the separation – a separation – a Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence. The Enlightenment, an 18The Enlightenment, an 18thth-century European -century European movement emphasizing science and reason as movement emphasizing science and reason as keys to improving society, greatly influenced the keys to improving society, greatly influenced the drafting. drafting.


Thomas Jefferson divided the Declaration into four Thomas Jefferson divided the Declaration into four sections: (1) a sections: (1) a preamble; preamble; (2) a declaration of (2) a declaration of rights; (3) a list of complaints against the king; (4) a rights; (3) a list of complaints against the king; (4) a resolution of independence. resolution of independence.

PreamblePreamble

“When in the course of human events, it becomes “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of earth, the and to assume among the Powers of earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” the separation.”


Declaration of RightsDeclaration of Rights– In the 2In the 2ndnd section, Jefferson explained the political ideas section, Jefferson explained the political ideas

on which the document was based and drew heavily on on which the document was based and drew heavily on the writings from John Locke. the writings from John Locke.

– Locke believed people have Locke believed people have natural rights – rights natural rights – rights that belong to them simply because they are that belong to them simply because they are human, not because kings or governments granted human, not because kings or governments granted them these rights. them these rights.

– People form governments to protect their natural rights, People form governments to protect their natural rights, but they do not surrender control over to their but they do not surrender control over to their government. government.

– If a government fails to act in the best interest of the If a government fails to act in the best interest of the people, they have a right to revolt and replace it with a people, they have a right to revolt and replace it with a new one. new one.


ComplaintsComplaints– This section laid out a long list of wrongs the This section laid out a long list of wrongs the

colonists believed the British king had colonists believed the British king had committed. committed.

– Colonists were tired of what they saw as Colonists were tired of what they saw as self-interested decisions made by the self-interested decisions made by the English king. English king.

– In a government based on In a government based on rule of law, rule of law, public officials must make decisions based public officials must make decisions based on the law, not on their own personal on the law, not on their own personal wishes. wishes.


ResolutionResolution– Jefferson wrote, “these United Colonies are, and Jefferson wrote, “these United Colonies are, and

of Right ought to be Free and Independent of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…”States…”

On July 4On July 4thth, 1776, delegates voted to , 1776, delegates voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. approve the Declaration of Independence. It defined the basic principles on which It defined the basic principles on which American government and society would American government and society would rest. rest. The United States would be a nation in The United States would be a nation in which ordinary citizens would have a strong which ordinary citizens would have a strong voice in their own government. voice in their own government.

Education

Section 3: Ideas behind the revolution