How Did The Enlightenment Cause The American Revolution

Many factors caused the American Revolution, unfair British rule, lack of freedom and independence, and various economical issues. Three important events such as the Enlightenment, Great Awakening, and country ideology influenced the colonists in the years leading up to the Revolution. Considering that Great Britain was the world’s most powerful nation at the time, the colonists wanted to be completely independent from British rule. Great Britain would never release grasp of the American world unless the Colonies fought for their freedom. The American Revolution was indeed inevitable. The Enlightenment was a major influence on the political ideas of the colonists who pushed for independence from Great Britain. John Locke, widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment

The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765. The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used, such as: legal documents, newspapers, licenses, etc. Patrick Henry, an American attorney, planter, and politician wanted the colonists to join the rebellion against Great Britain. In his speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” Patrick Henry is urging colonists to raise a militia that could oppose the British army. The colonists tried everything to rebel against Great Britain, they petitioned, remonstrated, supplicated, and prostrated themselves before the throne, and also implored it’s interposition to arrest tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. The British believed the colonists were weak and unable to cope