Name Class Date
Enlightenment and Revolution
Section 4
The American Revolution
Terms and Names
Declaration of Independence Document declaring American independence from
Britain
Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of Independence
checks and balances System in which each branch of government checks, or limits,
the power of the other two branches
federal system System of government in which power is divided between the national
and state governments
Bill of Rights First ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; protections of basic
rights for individuals
Before You Read
In the last section, you read about the spread of Enlightenment ideas in
Europe.
In this section, you will learn how Enlightenment ideas influenced the
American Revolution.
As You Read
Use a chart to list the problems American colonists faced in shaping
their republic and solutions they found.
BRITAIN AND ITS AMERICAN _______________________________
COLONIES (Page 640)
How were the colonies governed?
The British colonies in North America
AMERICANS WIN INDEPENDENCE
grew in population and wealth during the (Pages 641–643)
1700s. Population went from about What caused Britain and America to
250,000 in 1700 to 2,150,000 in 1770. grow apart?
Economically, they prospered on trade The high cost of the French and Indian
with the nations of Europe. The 13 War led Parliament to tax the colonists.
colonies also had a kind of self- The colonists became very angry. They
government. People in the colonies began had never before paid taxes directly
to see themselves less and less as British to the British government. They said
subjects. Still, Parliament passed laws that that the taxes violated their rights.
governed the colonies. One set of laws Since Parliament had no members from
banned trade with any nation other than the colonies, they said, Parliament had no
Britain. right to tax them.
The colonists met the first tax, passed in
1765, with a boycott of British goods.
1. How did the colonists’ image of Their refusal to buy British products was
themselves clash with their status as very effective. It forced Parliament to
colonists? repeal the law.
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247 Guided Reading Workbook
Name Class Date
Section # continued
Over the next decade, the colonists and AMERICANS CREATE A REPUBLIC
Britain grew further apart. Some colonists (Pages 644–645)
wanted to push the colonies to What are some fundamental ideas in
independence. They took actions that the U.S. Constitution?
caused Britain to act harshly. Eventually, The 13 states formed a new government
the conflict led to war. Representatives of under the Article of Confederation. This
the colonies met in a congress and formed government was very weak. States held all
an army. In July 1776, they announced the power and the central government had
that they were independent of Britain. little. This proved unworkable. In 1787,
They issued the Declaration of American leaders met again. They wrote a
Independence. It was based on new framework of government.
Enlightenment ideas. Thomas Jefferson The Constitution of the United States
wrote it. drew on many Enlightenment ideas. It
From 1775 to 1781, the colonies and the used Montesquieu’s idea of separation of
British fought a war in North America. powers into three branches of government.
The colonists had a poorly equipped army, Through a system of checks and
and Britain was one of the most powerful balances, each branch was able to prevent
nations in the world. However, in the end, other branches from abusing their power.
the colonies won their independence. The Constitution also set up a federal
The British people grew tired of the system. Under this system, power was
cost of the war and pushed Parliament to divided between national and state
agree to a peace. The Americans were also governments.
helped greatly by aid from France. In The Constitution also used Locke’s idea
1783, the two sides signed a treaty. In it, of putting power in the hands of the
Britain recognized the independent United people. It used Voltaire’s ideas to protect
States of America. the right to free speech and freedom of
religion. It used Beccaria’s ideas about a
2. Name some of the steps that led to the
fair system of justice.
American Revolution.
Many of these rights were ensured in a
________________________________ set of additions to the Constitution called
the Bill of Rights. The inclusion of a bill
of rights helped win approval for the
Constitution.
3. Explain how the Constitution divides
power.
__________________________________
As you read this section, note some causes and effects relating to the
American Revolution and the establishment of the United States as a
republic.
Causes Events Effects
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248 Guided Reading Workbook
Name Class Date
Section # continued
1. British Parliament passes
Stamp Act.
2. British close Boston
harbor and station troops
in city.
3. Second Continental
Congress votes to form
an army under command
of George Washington.
4. France enters the war in
1778.
5. By approving the Articles
of Confederation, states
create a weak national
government.
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249 Guided Reading Workbook
