The Enlightenment

1. The Enlightenment • The Setting • Natural Law • Nature’s God • Reason • Idea of Progress • Realms of Thinking • Example of the Scientific Revolution

2. Road to Revolt • No Taxation without Representation • Mercantilism • Various Events • Coercive Acts • Lexington and Concord • Colonial Debates: patriots, loyalists and opportunists

3. Reluctant Revolutionaries • Act of Rebellion and Treason • Who were the leaders? Only ones? • The Continental Congress • George Washington’s role • Colonial Divisions • Early Campaigns

4. Mobilization • The British Empire • Colonial Aims: Independence or Loyal • Finances • Military Preparedness • Allies: slaves? Indians? Other nations? • Public Opinion divided

5. 1775-76 • Fortunes of War • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense • Republicanism: representative gov’t • The Declaration of Independence • Early state governments • Feature in Constitutions • The Articles of Confederation, 1781: The US

6. Military Campaigns • British Strategy • Loss of New York • Battle of Saratoga • France’s Entrance • Western and Southern Campaigns • Yorktown

7. The Other Americans • The Role of Women: At home and t/o the campaigns. • Voice of Abigail Adams • Slaves and Freedmen • The Plantation system • The Debates • Contributions

8. Paris Peace, 1783 • The Map of North America • Western boundry: Mississippi • North: Great Lakes and Canada • South: Florida and the Gulf • The Atlantic

9. Post War Blues • Foreign Affairs: Brits, French and Spain • Domestic Economy: Debt and Depression • Shay’s Rebellion • United States? • Northwest Ordinance • Gathering Storm

10. The Articles of Confederation • The ratification and purpose • Deficiencies • Taxation, revenue and regulation • Coercive Powers • Legislative authority • Mt Vernon and Annapolis • Off to Philly