history disc (3) due in 24 hours
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AgeofReason_RevolutionaryLit.pptxLiterature of the Revolution
The Age of Reason
Profound changes took place in western world
European and African populations in North America grow – from 250,000 in 1700 to 5,000,000 in 1800
Continuous westward expansion displaced Native Americans
Ethnic diversity, economic strength, Enlightenment ideals laid foundation for the United States
18th Century – Age of Reason, Enlightenment
Age of Reason began in 17th Century England, spread to France and Europe, then to colonies
Rene Descartes rejected medieval authoritarianism
Voltaire’s writings attacked dogmatism
1662 – Founding of the Royal Society of London for the “improvement of natural knowledge” (beginnings of Scientific Revolution)
Isaac Newton’s discoveries
Natural universe can be understood by any person
A single mathematical law accounts for natural movements
Modern science begins weakening faith in miracles, holy books, idea of divinity of kings
Illuminating the Enlightenment
John Locke – morality is capable of demonstration, just as mathematics is
Benjamin Franklin – advocated reasonable “science of virtue”
Thomas Paine – wrote The Age of Reason – attacked irrationality of traditional Christianity
Theology became rational; religion became deistic
Deism – informal, unorganized religious movement among upper classes and intellectuals
Idea of God as the Clockmaker – engineered the universe then let it run
Age of Reason - Morality
Humanitarianism, natural philosophy, scientific observation
Progress became dominant concept of the age
Movements arose for social betterment, prison reform, sympathy for Native Americans, slaves, the poor and oppressed
Enlightenment Morality
John Locke’s Treatises of Civil Government (1690) – governments resulted from agreements between people, not divinely ordained from God to kings to men
Enlightenment was an age of dissent, revolution
Human mind is a tabula rasa – a blank slate – thus man is born neither good nor bad, but is the result of experiences
By end of 18th Century – faith in human perfectibility
Thomas Paine wrote and spoke of the rights of man (and woman)
Thomas Jefferson – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
Enlightenment and Government
Beginning of 18th Century – colonies had one newspaper; by 1800 there were 200 newspapers
Benjamin Franklin began the first American magazine in Philadelphia in 1741
Franklin exemplified and wrote secular ideas, humanist concepts, scientific ideas, master of diplomacy; he was instrumental in starting libraries, schools, hospitals, urban fire stations, the post office
American writing was patterned on 18th Century English writing, but lagged behind slightly
American literature in the 18th Century was dominated by pamphlets, essays, journal articles, newspapers, and the political documents we still use
An Emerging American Literature
Many lived at same time as Puritans like Edwards, but they focused their energies on matters of government rather than religion
Gifted minds of the period drawn to political writing – effort to launch a grand experiment in government
Writers of the Revolution
Pamphlet most important outlet for these political writings – 2000 published from 1763-1783
Inexpensive “little books” that fueled the Revolution, reaching thousands of people quickly, stirring debate and action in response to growing discontent with British rule
Common Sense by Thomas Paine – expressed views of rational Enlightenment while retaining Puritan belief that America had a special destiny to be a model to the rest of the world
Pamphlets and Propaganda
Declaration of Independence – articulates the natural law that would govern America – idea that people are born with rights and freedoms and that it is the function of government to protect those freedoms
Constitution of the United States of America – founding document
Writing that Launched a Nation
Beyond statesmen, many others contributed to political writings, even in poetry
Women, Native Americans, colonists, Puritans, and patriots all gave voice to understandings of the dreams and values that shaped the nation; all were part of building this “city upon a hill”
Voices of the People
American Revolution was an upper-class rebellion
Not everyone benefited from “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”
Forcible removal of Native Americans became U.S. policy after revolution
“science” and “reason” were used to justify slavery and the “inferiority of darker races”
Nevertheless, founding documents have been interpreted in modern times to support freedoms and liberties for minorities, the poor, and women
Enlightenment Contradictions
Perfect example of “poor boy makes good”
Born Boston, the 15th child of a poor candlemaker
Apprenticed to brother (a printer)
By 16 yrs. old, a master printer writing for brother’s newspaper
Used pen name Silence Dogood to write satirical comedy on Boston society, politics, religion
At 17, began publishing Poor Richard’s Almanack
At 42, wealthy and famous, retired from business to devote his life to science and public service
Organized American Philosophical Society, the University of Pennsylvania, first charity hospital; invented bifocals and lightning rod, made discoveries about electricity
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
1757-1775 – represented colonies in England
Returned to Philadelphia, named delegate to Second Constitutional Congress and part of committee writing Declaration of Independence
1776 – Congress sent him to be minister to France, to seek aid for faltering revolution
Negotiated treaty with France against England 1778
Named delegate to Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, worked to gain ratification of Constitution
Benjamin Franklin
Only American to sign all four documents that created the Republic:
Declaration of Independence
Treaty of Alliance with France
Treaty of Peace with England
U.S. Constitution
At his death, considered the Father of the United States
Helped create cult of self-reliance – beginnings of transcendentalism and industrial society
Remains most influential and most read of American writers
Benjamin Franklin
Born Thetford, England, son of Quaker farmer and corset-maker
After attending grammar school, worked as staymaker for his father, then served as sailor, schoolteacher, government tax collector
By 37, had failed at a variety of professions, declared a bankrupt
Met Franklin in London, left for America with letter of introduction from Franklin
Wrote for Pennsylvania Magazine
Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
Published Common Sense January 1776 – filled with rhetoric of revolution, called for independence from England
Within 5 moths, 100,000 copies distributed in colonies
1776, published first of the Crisis papers – argued for revolution, independence
“These are the times that try men’s souls . . .”
After Revolution, British government charged him with sedition
Completed The Age of Reason in Paris 1794-96 – attacked irrationality of religion and supported deism; vilified by clerics and journalists
Thomas Paine
Man of encyclopedic knowledge and accomplishments
Policeman, statesman, artist, scientist, inventor, patron of education, literary stylist, servant of the Republic
Governor Virginia – 1770-1781
American Minister to France – 1797-1801
Secretary of State – 1790-1793
Vice President – 1797-1801
President – 1801-1809
Commissioned Lewis & Clark Expedition – 1801-1803
Founded University of Virginia
Founded Democratic Party
Louisiana Purchase – 1803 (doubled size of U.S.)
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Born central Virginia
At 17, started library that ultimately became the Library of Congress
Sent with delegation to Second Constitutional Congress in Philadelphia
Selected to draft Declaration of Independence
An egalitarian, opposed the limelight, supported aristocracy – “rule of the best”; a poor military leader, no orator, but brilliant at writing political prose
Thomas Jefferson
