the Enlightenment was a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority

a social contract is an agreement that rulers should govern in a way that benefits the people in exchange for having power over them

a colony is an area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country

settlers are people who have arrived to live in a new area of land

the basic principles or laws which govern a country are known collectively as a constitution

The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas

History

The background to the Enlightenment

Enlightenment ideas: science and politics

Enlightenment ideas and the causes of the French Revolution

The impact of the French Revolution in the Atlantic world

The Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution

In this unit, pupils learnt about the Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason, science and progress. This foundation will be crucial in ‘The Industrial Revolution: did industrialisation revolutionise people's lives?’, where pupils will examine how the intellectual shifts of the Enlightenment contributed to the dramatic changes brought about by industrialisation.

In ‘The Renaissance: what do the artefacts of the Renaissance tell us about it?’, pupils explored how Renaissance art and culture reflected new ways of thinking. Building on this, this unit introduces the Enlightenment, where pupils will examine how ideas of reason and progress further shaped European thought.

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'.

The Enlightenment: what was the Enlightenment?

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

after the settlers defeated the British in the Revolutionary War

several years after the Revolutionary War was over

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

What piece of machinery allowed Enlightenment ideas to arrive in the American colonies?

How many British colonies were there in North America at the time of the Revolutionary War?

paper documents were very, very expensive at this time

the British king wanted more money to spend on his royal household

needed to make up for the money that they had spent fighting

Why did Britain introduce heavy taxes like the Stamp Act of 1765?

What was the name of a protest that happened in Boston in 1773?

an area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers 

collective name for the basic principles/laws which govern a country

people who have arrived to live in a new area of land

Match the keywords to the correct definitions.

when one group has total control over an area of business or trade

when a statement or idea appears to contradict itself

taking control of another country & taking advantage of its resources

agreement that rulers should govern in a way that benefits the people

Match the words to the correct definitions.

Which philosopher criticised the sheer amount of Enlightenment scientific experimentation being done?

Where did revolutions take place which were partly inspired by John Locke's ideas about the social contract?

Which word describes a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority?

Who wrote the "Wealth of Nations" which criticised the British East India Company's monopoly on trade between Britain and India?

A rise in {{ }} had happened during the Enlightenment which saw many philosophers come to the racist conclusion that White Europeans were naturally superior to Black Africans.

The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas

Lesson outcome

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