Shaping of the Modern World

 

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Brooklyn College Core Curriculum:
The Shaping of the Modern World

Section 6:The American Revolution: An Enlightenment Project?

Introduction: This Week's Goals

Most students are probably more familiar with the American Revolution than any of the topics we have covered so far.  In most cases the American Revolution is taught as part of American history courses. Many such courses take the view that American history is "exceptional". In this section, however, we want to look at how the American revolution functioned as an aspect of Western and World History. By the end of the section, you should:-

  • Have a clear idea the main series of events leading to the establishment of the United States of America.
  • Understand the political and philosophical roots of the ideas of the revolution.
  • Be able to discuss the specific American circumstances of the revolution.
  • Understand the debate about how radical the revolution was.
  • Be able to discuss the impact of the American Revolution on:-
    • Africans in America
    • Indian peoples
    • Women
    • Canada
    • The World balance of power.

Text

Kagan, 579-602

Multimedia

Sources

[note: all links are to off site texts.
Local versions will be available later.]

Outline

I. Introduction

II. The European World Economic System

III. The English Colonies

IV. The Road to Independence

  • America and the Enlightenment
  • The French and Indian War 1756-1763
    • Part of the world wide "Seven Years War".
    • France vs. Britain.
    • Only after Britain won did the colonists start to make a fuss about taxation.
    • Death of Wolfe 1759
  • Colonial Discontent
    • Trade System/Navigation Acts
    • Extent of Regulation - Benign neglect no more
    • Relations with Parliament
  • 1768-1774

V. Rebellious Actions

VI. Opinion Changers

  • Thomas Paine, the writer of Common Sense, was also later to be involved in defending the French Revolution.
  • Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
  • 1775 Common Sense

VII. Great Men ?

  • Thomas Jefferson
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • George Washington
  • Benedict Arnold

VIII. Declaration of Independence 1776

IX. The War

X. Revolution or War of Independence?

  • War of Independence?
    • Elite classes remain in charge
    • Poor whites not represented
    • Blacks still slaves
  • Revolutionary Social Change
    • Departure of Loyalists (60,000)
    • Leveling effect of inflation
    • Creation of a new mythology
  • A Country With a Mission

XI. The Governance of the New Country

  • States
  • Articles of Confederation 1781 - Loose Union
  • Problems

XII. The Making of the Constitution 1787

  • Why?
    • For economic reasons (Charles Beard)
    • For Democracy
  • Philadelphia 1787
  • New Notion - Federalism
    • cf. Confederation (Joint citizenship)

XIII. The Constitution

  • Rationale
    • Freedom from government
      [Discussion: What does government do?]
    • Built in Gridlock
  • British Models
    • English Institutions
      -Bicameral legislature
      -Single executive
      -Common law rules
    • John Locke
      Government as a contract.
  • French Models
    • Montesquieu - Separation of Powers
    • Rousseau - Popular Sovereignty
  • American Experiences
    • New England town meetings
    • Colonial assemblies (unlike anything in England)
    • State constitutions (e.g. Virginia)
    • Example of Iroquois Confederation?
  • Separation of Powers
    • Executive Presidency (=King)
    • Congress (=Parliament)
    • Judiciary (=Judges)
  • American Originality
    • Formalizing of Arrangements

XIV. Federalists and Anti-Federalists

  • Federalists:
    • Alexander Hamilton
    • Strong government
  • Anti-Federalists:
    • Thomas Jefferson
    • Limited government

XV. The Bill of Rights

  • The Bill of Rights was written to defend  individuals against state power.

XVI. The Party System

  • Early Intentions
  • George Washington
  • John Adams
  • Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans (i.e. Democrats)

XVII. America - The Enlightenment Project

  • The Constitution used many Enlightenment ideas.
    • Locke - "Life, Liberty and Property".
    • The idea of just opposition to despotism.
    • Montesquieu - The idea of separation of powers.
    • Creation of a New Society
    • Civil Religion of the United States
    • Overwhelming cultural importance given to notion of the Individual [ But who was an individual?]

XVIII. America: A City on a Hill?

Web Exercise

This week's web exercise is another "search and assess" mission!

Locate two web sites on slavery. You can find these on American Slavery, Ancient Slavery, or slavery in the modern world.

Explain how you found the site. Try not to go to the first ones you come across in Yahoo. I recommend trying to find a site dedicated to the history of slavery, and then checking out that site's links.

Compare the approaches of the two sites you choose. What is the underlying "mission" of the site? How does the creator document his or her sources? What conflicts can you see about how we interpret the history of slavery?

Discussion Questions

What was "mercantilism" and why did it encourage European countries to develop overseas empires? What were the four main stages of these empires?

Compare the experiences and potential hopes of an "indentured servant" from Europe and an enslaved African in the New World.

Discuss the conflict between European powers in the mid 18th century? Why might the "Seven Years War" of 1756-63 be thought of as the first "world war"? What were the effects of this war on who controlled the North American colonies.

To what extent was the American Revolution a "European" event?  Try to be specific and explain what ideas from English Common Law, French political philosophy, etc., played a role. What do you think was most important?

What were the major economic issues that lead to the onset of the Revolution?

What was the role of propaganda in creating support for the Revolution? What methods were used to spread revolutionary ideas?

Discuss the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the thought of John Locke.

Discuss the role of France in supporting the American revolutionaries? Why was France, officially an absolutist monarchy, so keen on supporting a revolution?

What united the American colonists in 1776? What divided them?

Why didn't the American revolution end slavery?

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created 9/11/1998 : revised 3/15/1998