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The American Revolution (1775-1783) Guided Notes
Anticipation Questions:
Consider the following quote: “If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that, too.” -- Somerset Maugham
● How was rhetoric (the art of argumentation) so important to the creation of America? Because everyone has opinions, and it was important to share that, at this time, many big decisions were made.
● Why might it be important to study the speeches and arguments presented during this time period?
It was important because you can see how people's opinions and views have changed throughout time.
The American Revolution
● The American Revolution was an insurrection___________ (a violent attempt to take control of a government) carried out by 13 Great Britain's North American colonies. ● Began in 1775_ and ended with a peace treaty in _1783_____.
Causes of the American Revolutionary War:
- The French & Indian Wars left Britain in debt.
- Britain looked to the colonists to help pay off the debt.
- Colonists were forced to pay taxes on everyday items.
- The lack of colonial representation in British parliament violated the colonists' rights.
The Declaratory Act:
● The Declaratory Act (1776) was a declaration by British Parliament that stated _British Parliament’s taxing authority was the ● same in America as in Great Britain._______________________ ● It declared that the British Parliament had full power to “ Make laws and statues of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjectects of the crown of Great britain in all cases whatsoever. .”
● In what ways did this decree challenge the colonists’ freedom? ○ It made them angrier because they were being controlled by a person who was across the world.
Boston Massacre:
● On March 7,1770 , someone posted a handbill from the British soldiers, promising that they were determined to defend themselves. ● That night, a crowd of _bostonians_________ roamed the streets. They were angry about a rumor that soldiers were planning to __cut down the liberty tree____________ and that a soldier had attacked an oysterman. ● Arguments broke out. The colonists grew angry and resentful, and surrounded the soldiers. ● One of the soldiers was jostled, and, in fear, shot his musket. ● Soldiers opened fire, leaving 5 colonists dead.
Boston Tea Party:
The Age of Enlightenment:
● Enlighten: ___the idea of shedding light on something, illuminating it, making it clear. ● __The Enlightenment was characterized by a change away from traditional religious sources of authority, and a move towards science and rational thought. ● Time Period: 1700 to 1820.
Major Cause:
● Modern Science and the Scientific Method ○ Scientific discoveries, such as Newton’s motion of the ○ planets and gravitational ○ force suggested: ■ The natural world could beunderlying laws __explored and understood_____________ ■ Nature was governed by __underlying laws______ ■ For every _effect_______ there was an identifiable _cause_________ ■ For every _natural _phenomenon_______ there was an _explanation_______
Major Effect of the Enlightenment:
● _American Revolutionary War______________ ● Enlightenment thinkers believed __freedom and democracy________________ were rights of all people.
Characteristics of American Literature During the Age of Enlightenment/Reason:
- Emphasis on Logic and Reason for solving human problems.
- Distrust of the mystical and mysterious.
- Faith in the senses.
- Sense of nationalism.
- Belief in progress through _education__________.
- Belief in basic human goodness.
- Belief that God created the universe but does not _interfere in its workings_______________.
Literature of the Period:
● The common forms of literature during this time included tracts, Pamphlets autobiographys, and documents.
Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richard’s Almanack
● Poor Richard’s Almanac(k) was a yearly publication by Benjamin Franklin ● Originally published December 28, 1732____________ ● Included things like __yearly calendar, weather, seasonal predictions, poems, witt sayings, and proverbs____________________________________ ● Was a _popular reading______ throughout the 13 colonies
Aphorisms:
● An aphorism is__a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner.________________________________ ● These statements must be brief______ and _contain truth______________ ● Example: "_The man who removes a mountain ● begins by carrying away small stones.” – William Faulkner ○ What does this aphorism mean? ■ A statement of truth
