The American Revolution was influenced by multiple enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, Montesquieu, Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, and Rousseau
By jj as
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Enlightenment Period
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Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes wrote a book called the Leviathan. This book stated that people should be ruled by someone who wasn't evil or selfish. How can a selfish ruler prevent its people from being selfish (Video). -
John Locke
John Locke stated that there are three natural rights; life, liberty, and property, and if these were violated, we should have a way of reacting (Video). -
Montesquieu
Montesquieu talked about how the government should be seperated into three powers instead of being one ruler. This is just in case any rights are violated. -
Rousseau
Rousseau axplains his idea of a social contract, and how we should have the ability to back out without fighting, but by just using this contract (Video). -
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American Revolution
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No Liberty
Before the Revolutionary War started, the colonists were very upset with the idea of taxation without representaion. Due to this, the government was actually violating their natural right of liberty, This is one of the natural rights that John Locke stated (White). -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
On this date, at the locations of Lexington and Concord, the British and Americans fought for the first time. This relates back to the idea that Rousseau was trying to say about being able to back out with a social contract, Due to the fact that this right of the colonists was being violated, they had to fight instead of being able to easily back out (History). -
Independence is declared
On this day, the Americans declare independence from the British, abandoning that evil and selfish rule that Thomas Hobbes was talking about during the enloghtenment age. King Geroge III was evil and selfish, mostly because of this taxation without representation to the colonists, which is just plain selfish, so he was violating the words of Hobbes, and the colonists realized this was unfair too, so they broke free. -
Immanuel Kant
Kant states, "Dare to know! Have courage to use your own reason!" He's explaining how you can rebel against something and prove their ideas wrong, he was mostly talking about the church though. -
Battle of Charleston
On this day, the Patriots suffer "their worst" defeat in the war. The Battle of Charleston resulted in 3,000 soldiers captured and a surrender by one of our generals. Only about 250 British soldiers were killed or injured during the battle. This has to do with what Immanuel Kant said about courage and daring to know. The Patriots had the courage to question the British powers even though they would have losses like this (History). -
Contistution is Ratified
The United States constitution is ratified on this date, putting it to use in Delaware. This consitution mentions and describes the three branches of government (Judicial, Executive, and Legislative) which is exactly what Montesquieu wanted it to be like (White).
