Year 8 - History
The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas
The Enlightenment: what was the Enlightenment?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the Enlightenment and its impact on America, France, and the Atlantic World. They develop knowledge of the Enlightenment's background and ideas and consider its links to the 'Age of Revolution'.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the role the Enlightenment played in causing the American Revolution.
Key Notes
- Enlightenment ideas were discussed and debated among the educated classes in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s.
- The American people did not have representation in the British parliament which created their heavy taxes and laws.
- When the American settlers challenged England on these issues, they were ignored, leading to war.
- The American people declared their independence from Britain in 1776.
- America secured the new republic with the US Constitution and inspired similar unrest in France at the end of the 1780s.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Enlightenment: the Enlightenment was a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority
- social contract: a social contract is an agreement that rulers should govern in a way that benefits the people in exchange for having power over them
- colony: a colony is an area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country
- settlers: settlers are people who have arrived to live in a new area of land
- constitution: the basic principles or laws which govern a country are known collectively as a constitution
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The Declaration of Independence was signed after the settlers defeated the British in the Revolutionary War.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Enlightenment ideas were discussed and debated among the educated classes in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s. The American people did not have representation in the British parliament which created their heavy taxes and laws.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Enlightenment'
the Enlightenment was a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The Declaration of Independence was signed after the settlers defeated the British in the Revolutionary War. Correction: The Declaration of Independence was signed early on in the Revolutionary War and the US Constitution was signed after the war had concluded.
More Lessons In This Unit
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