Enlightenment Thinkers In The 18th Century

Enlightenment
The enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during mid to late 1700`s , changing ideas of government and society. enlightenment thinkers throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced that humanity could be improved through rational change. People were questioning long held truths. Some including divine rights , religion , science , and personal freedom. Enlightenment thinkers stood for a number of ideals including reason, progress, liberty, and, goodness. Some enlightenment thinkers were, John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques.

Salutary neglect
During 17th century to mid 18th century the colonies received Salutary neglect .This is when the British did not pay close attention to the colonies. As long as the colonies remained loyal to the British government and contributed to the economic profitability of Britain, the Britain would just ignore them. The colonies began to govern themselves

Mercantilism
Great Brittan followed a policy that a country should sell more goods than buy.

Profit made on exports exceeds the cost of imports. The colonist felt fine until Brittan passed a series of acts that the colony could only trade with Brittan. The British put restrictions on how their colonies spent their money so that they could control their economies. They put limits on what goods the colonies could produce, whose ships they could use, and most importantly, with whom they could trade.

Early 1760`s
British soldiers were given permission to search people homes for smuggled goods. During this time the French and Indian was happening. The British lost a lot of money during this war. The British taxed the colonies highly to get some money back. The proclamation of 1763 is when the British claimed land east of the Mississippi river. They banned all sentiments west of the Appalachian mountains. No one listen which increased the colonies independent spirit.

1764 Sugar act
The British raised taxes on goods including wine, sugar, coffee, and indigo. This was the first time the British passed a act to raise revenue rather than to regulate trade. The merchants protested the increased

duties.

1764 stamp act
The stamp act is when the British taxed all documents including newspaper and playing cards. When using the documents you must place a special and expensive stamp. The responded no taxation without representation. They started to boycott British goods. During the time the sons of liberty formed , a group of people who opposed English rule. The boycott was so much of a success they repealed the stamp act and not a single stamp was sold again
1765 quartering Act
British soldiers were allowed to stay in the colonist homes. The British did not want to spend money for the troops to be in proper homes. The colonist did not get along with the soldiers. They set meetings to talk about their problems and discussed the acts.

March 3, 1770
The Boston massacre was when British soldiers fired among a group of people. 100 men where in the crowd throwing ice and clubs. about 5 men died during this event. Although there case was slim the British soldiers wan the trial.

1773 tea act
The British repealed Townshend acts except for the tax on tea. They reduced the price of tea while doing this the colonies could only buy tea from a certain company. In response to this a group of people called sons of liberty boarded British ships. They were disguised as native Indians. They got on and dumped out the tea that was imported from Brittan. this was the 16th of December.

But they saw the destruction of 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company as wanton destruction of property by Boston thugs who did not even have the courage to admit responsibility. Someone was going to pay. the British closed all harbors, quartering troops without permission and much more.

The signing
The DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was a product of the SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. It was to declare independence from freedom. It also explained why they did it. They were tired of the British for what they were doing. on July 4, 1776 the declaration of independence was signed.