The American Revolution: From Declaration to Constitution and Beyond
The American Revolution marked a pivotal moment in history, culminating in the Declaration of Independence authored by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. This document outlined natural rights, complaints against British rule, and proposed solutions for self-governance. The colonies, united in their struggle for liberty and assisted by France, triumphed over British mistakes. The post-war period saw the emergence of a republic governed by elected representatives, leading to the creation of the Constitution in 1787, which incorporated Enlightenment principles and set a precedent for future democratic movements worldwide.
The American Revolution: From Declaration to Constitution and Beyond
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Presentation Transcript
Declaration of Independence • 3 Sections: Natural Rights, Complaints, Solutions • Written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia, PA • Includes rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (Similar to John Locke)
Colonies win the War • Americans were defending their homes • Overconfident British leaders made lots of mistakes • Distance from Britain made war long and expensive for Brits • Helped by France
After the War • Colonies unite as a republic • Government where citizens rule by electing representatives • Leaders afraid of strong government • Created Articles of Confederation- FAILED
Constitution • 1787: Constitutional Convention • Open to pg 643 • 3 ways to avoid absolutism/tyranny • Federalism: national and state governments share powers • Separation of Powers: 3 branches of government • Bill of Rights
Important Results • Constitution put Enlightenment ideas into practical use • Will influence future revolutions and democracies worldwide • French Revolution!!