The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the role the Enlightenment played in causing the American Revolution.
Key learning points
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
The Declaration of Independence was signed after the settlers defeated the British in the Revolutionary War.
The Declaration of Independence was signed early on in the Revolutionary War and the US Constitution was signed after the war had concluded.
Teacher tip
Get students to consider the extent to which the American Revolution was inevitable or avoidable.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words 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
Q2.Which philosopher criticised the sheer amount of Enlightenment scientific experimentation being done?
Q3.Where did revolutions take place which were partly inspired by John Locke's ideas about the social contract?
Q4.Which word describes a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority?
Q5.Who wrote the "Wealth of Nations" which criticised the British East India Company's monopoly on trade between Britain and India?
Q6.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.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
Q2.What piece of machinery allowed Enlightenment ideas to arrive in the American colonies?
Q3.How many British colonies were there in North America at the time of the Revolutionary War?
Q4.Why did Britain introduce heavy taxes like the Stamp Act of 1765?
Q5.What was the name of a protest that happened in Boston in 1773?
Q6.Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
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
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Enlightenment: what was the Enlightenment? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.