Key Figures of the American Revolution and Enlightenment

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John Locke

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Enlightenment thinker who developed the concepts of natural rights and the social contract. Rejected the divine right of kings. Believed that a government's power to rule comes from the consent of the governed. All people have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property, also known as natural rights.

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Thomas Paine

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Patriot author of the pamphlet “Common Sense”

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Patriots

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Group of people who wanted Americans to fight for independence.

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Paul Revere

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Boston silversmith who warned the people, “The British are coming!”

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Sons of Liberty

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Boston-based group of rebels led by Sam Adams and John Adams.

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Loyalists

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Group of people who wanted to remain loyal to the British

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John Adams

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Leader of the Sons of Liberty, representative in the Continental Congress. Part of the committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence. Defended the British officers in the Boston Massacre.

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Sam Adams

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Leader of the Sons of Liberty

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Thomas Hobbes

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If left alone in a state of nature, people will perish. He also believes in a social contract.

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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People and government engage in social contracts for mutual protection. All people are authors of the law.