AP8 Q2W5D3: The American Revolution and Enlightenment Ideals

Day 3: The American Revolution and Enlightenment Ideals

The Enlightenment did not stay in books—it crossed oceans and inspired action. In this lesson, you will explore how American colonists used ideas about rights, consent, and separation of powers to challenge imperial rule. You will connect key events of the Revolution to principles of liberty and nationalism, and practice applying these lessons to modern struggles for fair governance. Expect to use terms like representation, declaration, revolution, consent of the governed, and liberty with confidence.

• Subject: Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies)
• Grade: 8
• Day: 3 of 4

By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify and explain three key events of the American Revolution and their connection to Enlightenment ideals.
2. Analyze how the Declaration of Independence reflects Enlightenment principles of natural rights and consent of the governed.
3. Evaluate how the Revolution contributed to ideas of nationalism and the struggle for freedom.

• Representation – having a voice in making laws and policies.
• Declaration – a formal statement of beliefs or demands.
• Revolution – a fundamental change in political power or structure.
• Consent of the governed – legitimacy of rulers depends on the approval of the people.
• Liberty – freedom from oppressive restrictions on thought, speech, or action.
• Nationalism – pride and unity in a shared identity and pursuit of independence.

Warm-up: From Day 2, recall one philosopher whose ideas directly shaped revolutionary thinking.

Show Answer

John Locke—his ideas of natural rights and government by consent heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence.

Discussion starter: Why would colonists feel taxation without representation violated Enlightenment principles?

Show Answer

Because legitimate power requires consent of the governed; laws and taxes without representation ignore that principle.

How to use this section: Each checkpoint explores an event or idea. Work through mini-goals, guided discussions, and reflective questions.

Checkpoint 1 — The Roots of Colonial Protest

Mini-goal: Explain why Enlightenment ideals inspired colonists to question imperial authority.

Guided discussion: British colonies thrived economically but faced new taxes and trade restrictions after costly wars. Colonists argued they were being taxed without representation in Parliament, a clear violation of Locke’s principle that laws require consent. Pamphlets spread the idea that liberty is a natural right and that government must justify power. Leaders connected grievances to Enlightenment logic: rights first, rulers second. This gave protests moral force beyond economic complaints—it made them about justice and legitimacy.

Mini-summary: Colonial protests drew strength from Enlightenment beliefs about rights, fairness, and consent.

1. What Enlightenment principle did “taxation without representation” violate?
2. Why did pamphlets matter for spreading revolutionary ideas?
3. How did colonists frame their struggle as more than taxes?

Show Answer

It violated consent of the governed; pamphlets made ideas accessible; they framed it as a defense of natural rights and liberty.

Checkpoint 2 — The Declaration of Independence

Mini-goal: Identify Enlightenment principles in the Declaration.

Guided discussion: Drafted in 1776, the Declaration listed grievances but also laid out ideals. It states that all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights. Governments derive just power from the consent of the governed, and when they violate rights, people may alter or abolish them. These words echo Locke and Rousseau, framing independence as both a practical and moral necessity. It was not just a break from Britain—it was a bold Enlightenment statement about legitimacy.

Mini-summary: The Declaration is both a protest and a philosophy, grounding independence in Enlightenment thought.

1. Which philosopher most directly influenced the Declaration?
2. What does “unalienable rights” mean?
3. When is revolution justified, according to the Declaration?

Show Answer

John Locke; rights that cannot be taken away; revolution is justified when government violates natural rights and loses consent.

Checkpoint 3 — Key Events of the Revolution

Mini-goal: Connect major events of the Revolution to Enlightenment ideals.

Guided discussion: Events like the Boston Tea Party, the battles of Lexington and Concord, and the writing of constitutions showed Enlightenment influence. Acts of protest asserted liberty and self-rule. Militia resistance showed belief in self-defense of rights. Written constitutions embodied Montesquieu’s call for divided powers and clear limits on authority. Each event was not only a political step but also a practical test of Enlightenment ideas in action.

Mini-summary: Revolutionary events turned theory into practice, grounding liberty in concrete action.

1. How did the Boston Tea Party connect to consent of the governed?
2. Which philosopher’s ideas appear in written constitutions?
3. Why did battles like Lexington and Concord matter symbolically?

Show Answer

It protested taxes without consent; Montesquieu (separation of powers); they showed people would defend rights with action.

Checkpoint 4 — Nationalism and Identity

Mini-goal: Explore how the Revolution built a shared sense of nationhood.

Guided discussion: Colonists from different regions began to see themselves as part of a united struggle. Shared sacrifices, victories, and documents fostered national identity. Nationalism grew not just from geography but from shared Enlightenment values—liberty, equality, representation. The Revolution helped people imagine themselves as citizens of a new nation, bound by principles as much as by territory.

Mini-summary: The Revolution turned scattered colonies into a nation built on shared ideals.

1. What role did shared sacrifices play in nationalism?
2. How do Enlightenment values contribute to identity?
3. Why does national identity matter for independence?

Show Answer

Shared sacrifices created unity; values like liberty and equality defined belonging; national identity justified independence as collective self-rule.

1. Match principle to event: Consent of the governed → ________.
   Show Answer

   Boston Tea Party.
2. Which Enlightenment idea appears in written constitutions?
   Show Answer

   Separation of powers (Montesquieu).
3. Why does the Declaration include a list of grievances?
   Show Answer

   To prove Britain broke the contract and lost legitimacy.
4. How did pamphlets help create nationalism?
   Show Answer

   They spread shared arguments and inspired collective identity.
5. Which Enlightenment principle supports the right to revolution?
   Show Answer

   Natural rights and consent of the governed (Locke).

1. Write one sentence explaining why taxation without representation angered colonists.
   Show Answer

   It violated the Enlightenment idea that power needs consent of the governed.
2. Name two unalienable rights listed in the Declaration.
   Show Answer

   Life and liberty (also property/pursuit of happiness).
3. What principle justified replacing government in the Declaration?
   Show Answer

   Consent of the governed—power is lost if rights are violated.
4. Why was the Boston Tea Party symbolic of liberty?
   Show Answer

   It defied unfair taxes and showed citizens could resist oppression.
5. Which philosopher influenced separation of powers in constitutions?
   Show Answer

   Montesquieu.
6. What did pamphlets achieve in the Revolution?
   Show Answer

   They spread Enlightenment ideas and rallied support.
7. Define nationalism in your own words.
   Show Answer

   A shared sense of belonging and pride in a common identity and independence.
8. Which Enlightenment idea is violated when rulers censor speech?
   Show Answer

   Liberty and toleration (Voltaire).
9. Why did battles like Lexington matter for morale?
   Show Answer

   They proved ordinary people would fight for rights and liberty.
10. How does the Revolution illustrate “ideas have consequences”?
    Show Answer

    Enlightenment principles moved people from writing to action, shaping nations.

1. Multiple Choice: Which idea most influenced the Declaration?
   1. Divine right of kings
   2. Natural rights
   3. Mercantilism
   4. Feudal loyalty
   Show Answer

   b) Natural rights.
2. True/False: The Boston Tea Party was only about money.
   Show Answer

   False—it was about consent and liberty.
3. Fill in: Governments derive power from the ________ of the governed.
   Show Answer

   consent.
4. Short answer: Why did colonists see Britain as breaking the social contract?
   Show Answer

   Because it taxed and ruled without consent, violating rights.
5. Match principle: separation of powers → ________.
   Show Answer

   Montesquieu.
6. Multiple Choice: Nationalism during the Revolution grew from…
   1. Shared Enlightenment values and sacrifices
   2. Royal decrees
   3. Colonial rivalries
   4. Trade profits alone
   Show Answer

   a) Shared Enlightenment values and sacrifices.
7. Define revolution in one phrase.
   Show Answer

   Fundamental change in power or political structure.
8. Short answer: What role did pamphlets play?
   Show Answer

   They spread ideas, explained grievances, and built unity.
9. True/False: Locke believed people should never resist rulers.
   Show Answer

   False—people can resist if rulers violate rights.
10. Fill in: The Declaration claimed people are endowed with ________ rights.
    Show Answer

    unalienable.
11. Short answer: Give one reason Lexington and Concord mattered.
    Show Answer

    They showed colonists were ready to fight for independence.
12. Multiple Choice: Which idea best explains “no taxation without representation”?
    1. Consent of the governed
    2. Absolutism
    3. Divine right
    4. Feudal loyalty
    Show Answer

    a) Consent of the governed.
13. Short answer: What is one way the Revolution built nationalism?
    Show Answer

    Shared struggles, victories, and Enlightenment