Enlightenment Vocab

• Enlighten = to shed light on truth, to free from ignorance

• Intellect = power of the mind to understand through the use of reason

• Reason = to explore the cause and effect of things

The Enlightenment

• Intellectual revolution (18th century)

• Man has the ability and the FREEDOM to think for himself

• Natural Laws = laws that can be learned through observation, reason and logic– Thunder comes from physical occurrences,

not from God’s anger

New Americans

• Americans begin to develop in a slightly different way from their British cousins– Focus on the Laws of Nature– People who are self-made can do very well in

America (have more independence, are better respected if you work hard)

– New Americans use their independence to work for the greater good (helping all people)

Britannia Rules!(the waves…)

Britain now united island• Acts of Union 1706 -

1707 – Joined Kingdom of England

(includes Wales and Ireland) & Kingdom of Scotland

– English king and Parliament now ruled Scotland

• Union popular, especially among English

• Americans think of themselves as part of unified country

Ireland - Cross of St. Patrick

England - Cross of St. George

Scotland - Cross of St. Andrew

Union Jack

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British Empire Wealthiest

• Access to trade networks around world• India, China, Africa, Americas, West Indies,

Mediterranean• More trade than any other nation – restricted colonies’

trade with other places

Military Protection• Navy in 1588 beat the

Spanish Armada• Navy gained power,

strength, and strategic forts around Mediterranean

• Army protects colonial borders from enemy nations, Indians

King George III• Came to throne in

1760 – 22 years old• First “English” king of

House of Hanover• Spoke English, not

German• Enthusiastic, wanted

to be firm, beloved monarch

American “Independence”• All colonists loyal to King of England

• Colonists had charters from king that gave them certain protections

• Colonists had legislative assemblies – could make own laws

• King and Parliament let colonies run themselves, so long as they were profitable…

British Justice• English common law

– laws that judges and juries decided in court cases

• People made the laws - everyone had protection of laws throughout British Empire

Low Taxes for Colonies• People in Great Britain shouldered

the tax burden– Paid higher taxes than any other

European country

• American colonists had government charters – ran their own affairs– King and Parliament could charge

them, but they weren’t doing it

High Standard of Living• British people were

employed, ate well, and had good shelter– Ate more meat and dairy– Had manufactured goods

(woven textiles, china, pewter, silver)

• Better as compared to people in France or Germany

• American colonists starting to have a similar standard of living– Proud of their homes,

possessions, lifestyles