2.01 - Revolutionary Ideas

the colonists did not have representation in the British parliament. Therefore, they reasoned

Great Britain did not have the colonists' consent to rule

the roots of American government derive from Great Britain, since Great Britain ruled over the colonies and many of the colonists were British citizens.

Great Britain had already adopted many of these ideas into its own government, including limiting the power of the monarch to give more power to elected officials who would represent the people's interests.

American colonists inherited most of their ideas and principles about government from

Great Britain, the Enlightenment, and ancient history.

Enlightenment - Natural Rights

John Locke listed life, liberty, and estate, or property as "natural rights." -these are rightsindivduals are born with, that no government can take away

2nd part of DOI: list of grievances

Lists colonists' 29 complaints against King George III • Complaints include taxation without representation, forcing colonists to keep British solders in their homes, restricting the colonists' trade, and shutting down colonial legislatures • Includes list of attempts by the colonists to seek redress from the king for their problems

3rd part of DOI: formal declaration

States that because of the greivances and failure of the king or Parliament to address them, the colonies would now be "Free and Independent States" • The colonies would rule themselves and no longer give loyalty to Britain or follow its laws, but rather make their own • States that the colonists will defend the Declaration of Independence with their lives, wealth, and honor

The increased presence of British troops after the end of the war further ignited tensions, and the conflict between colony and crown went from words to an armed rebellion in Massachusetts.

The Boston Massacre, an outbreak of fighting between colonists and soldiers, left five colonists dead. To protest a tax on tea, colonists dumped British tea into the Boston harbor. The colonists' actions, known as the Boston Tea Party, infuriated the British king and Parliament, which led to the closing of the harbor. The colonists began to arm themselves in defense because of these and other events.

When the Second Continental Congress met, they still hoped to restore peace even though they planned for war. They sent what became known as the Olive Branch Petition to request an end to British soldiers' aggression.

The king still did not respond, as he thought the colonists had no right to petition him or the Parliament.

popular sovereignty: Since they had no say in policy decisions and no part in the decision to place taxes on the colonies, they said they had not given consent. The colonists' chant of "No taxation without representation" derived from this idea of consent and source of authority. They had no representative in Parliament.

Therefore, the Declaration of Independence was their way of saying the government of Great Britain was no longer legitimate over the colonies. The king banned their own colonial legislatures from meeting, further preventing any kind of popular response to the king's policies.

Colonial leaders called a meeting, known as the First Continental Congress, in 1774.

They hoped they could find a way to resolve their differences with the British government. The king ignored their petition to reopen Boston Harbor and repeal other acts. I

John Locke described the natural rights as those of "life, liberty, and estate." All individuals hold these natural rights simply because they are human. They are unalienable, meaning no government or person can take them away. He used estate, or property, to explain that people have the right to make their own living and to provide for their own needs.

When the Declaration of Independence was written, Jefferson broadened this last right to "pursuit of happiness," as owning property was not guaranteed or always necessary to provide for oneself.

Enlightenment - Social Contract

a government is legitimate only if the people agree with its existence, meaning the government has their consent to rule -places government under an obligation to fulfil its purpose by protecting the people and their rights. -if it does not, the people could withdraw their consent, abolish the government, and form a new one.

As people settled the American colonies in the 1600s, they had charters from Great Britain that outlined their purpose and governance

charters were a formal document creating an organization or company -some were set up as economic ventures, while others focused on building a different society.

Direct Democracy in Ancient Greece

citizens vote directly on politically issues and laws in this form of government -governments in ancient greece came closest to direct democracy because all the people defined as citizens could vote

The second section of the Declaration of Independence lists

complaints against King George III, which were the actions he took that the colonists believed violated their rights and principles of government.

John Locke had probably the greatest influence of philosophers on Americans. -he wrote about

natural rights, social contract, and popular sovereignty

Enlightenment - Popular sovereignty

principle that the people themselves, rather than the government, have final authority

Many colonists, especially those whose livelihoods depended on trade in important ports like Boston, started to believe that they needed to take severe action. In early 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense

that outlined why the colonies should be independent, drawing from the ideas and principles of the Enlightenment. The pamphlet blamed King George III for the problems in the American colonies and challenged the authority of the British government and monarchy. It argued that the colonists should declare their independence from Britain and proposed a government based on popular sovereignty and a written constitution.

the introduction to the declaration of independence restates the purpose of government in terms of social contract theory

that people create government in order to secure their rights. -government only exists because the people haver willed it or given their consent to certain leaders to rule. It then states that when a government fails or even denies rights, the people can abolish it and create a new one.

the last/3rd section of the declaration of independence

the colonists officially declare the United States as an independent nation and clarify what that means for their relationship with Great Britain and other nations.

The French and Indian War, fought on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but Great Britain into heavy debt. -the government's expectation was that the colonists should help with the financial burden of the war, since some of the debt derived from defense of the colonies.

the colonists rejected and protested the taxes and policies placed on them. -

Popular Sovereignty

the principle that the legitimacy of the government depends on the wil or consent of its people

The first section of the Declaration of Independence introduces

the reasons it was created and explains the colonists' beliefs about the purpose of government. You can find evidence of their principles and ideas best in this first section.

Ancient Rome -Republic

this is a form of government where the citizens elect representatives to make laws.

1st part of DOI : introduction and beliefs

• Gives reasons for writing, including that breaking away from a ruling country should include notification of the reasons why • Describes colonists' beliefs about government, including John Locke's natural rights and social contract theory