1. Road to Independence QT 45-52

2. Objectives Identify major French influences on American colonial leaders Examine the Declaration of Independence for the ideas of earlier philosophers and politicians Analyze the Articles of Confederation’s weaknesses C1 PO2a&b, C1 PO3a, C1 PO3b, C2 PO3

3. France in the Age of Reason As early as 1500’s Italian and French political leaders became vocal critics of monarchy Many kings were concerned more with opulence than helping their people A good example of this kind of monarchy was the reign on Frances’ Louis XIV Two Frenchmen, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Baron de Montesquieu expressed ideas which especially influenced the American colonial leaders-

4. LOUIS XIV of France W/royal Commode

5. Palace of Versailles http://www.gvn.chateauversailles.fr/en/index. html http://www.gvn.chateauversailles.fr/en/index. html

8. The Dauphine’s Bedchamber

9. JJ Rouseau Claimed that people were good and therefore should all be equal – Bad events corrupted good people Therefore, government need not be harsh, but could be based on a – SOCIAL CONTRACT The Social Contract means that rulers “make a deal” to rule for the benefit of their people, not themselves Rousseau had to flee France shortly after his ideas were published

10. BARON DE MONTESQUIEU Member of French Nobility Lived at End of Louis XIV’s life Tired of Louis’s absolute monarchy, he called for the government to be split into three parts By separating the executive, legislative and judicial functions, de Montesquieu hoped France would become a fairer, freer place

11. Along Comes Independence 1756- 1763 French and Indian War ignited by Virginia settlers moving into French lands British forces overwhelm French forts in the Ohio Valley, Quebec, Caribbean – French retreat to west of Mississippi River To make a controversial peace with natives, British gov. agrees to keep settlers out of new lands. Colonist, lacking direct representation, are angered and ignore rules

12. Along Comes Independence 2 1764-1775 British North America is 17 colonies strong, from Newfoundland to Georgia In order to pay for the war, British Parliament institutes new taxes to pay for debts Lacking Direct representation, some colonists refuse to pay, resorting to destroying property, stockpiling arms. Governors strip traditional rights in response

13. British North America 1763-1775

14. Along Comes Independence 3 Revolutionary Leaders in some colonies, esp. Virginia and Massachusetts, advocate independence. Thomas Paine (Common Sense)in England supports their cause with popular books Loyalists support the King, citing the superior British military, economic ties to England and the dangers of slave revolt Thomas Jefferson drafts and submits DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

15. DECLARATION OF INDEPEDENCE Introduction sets stage for revolutionary synthesis of Ancient and Enlightenment ideals Inalienable (natural) rights of : Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness Representative Democracy from the consent of the governed rejects royal authority

16. Rights Theory Explained Rights are necessary to fulfill responsibilities Natural rights – From God, differ from religion to religion Civil Rights – From Government, differ from country to country Human Rights – From Humanity, a theoretical set of universal rights shared by all religions, countries and people.

18. Aftermath Essentially a civil war, the Revolutionaries would never have won without French assistance. Defeat of Colonel Benedict Arnold at Quebec forces Revolutionary armies back into New York, splits northernmost colonies off. Loyalists (15-20% of colonial population) migrate into Canadian colonies

19. Summary If you were living in the colonies in 1776, would you support the revolutionaries or the loyalists? Explain.