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

A study of the Enlightenment is crucial to undertanding the huge changes that were about to take place in modern Europe. This will allow pupils to understand the roots of the Industrial Revolution 

Pupils will have an understanding of the power of new ideas as informed by their studies of the Renaissance 

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Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.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

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.