The Age of Reason Ben Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson

The Age of Reason AKA… The Enlightenment The Neoclassical Period

Topics of the Age of Reason Science Government Ethics How important are these topics in today’s society?

Literary Forms of the Age of Reason Biographies/Autobiographies Government Documents Newspapers/Pamphlets A little poetry Speeches No Fiction The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin The Declaration of Independence Common Sense/ The Crisis Speech at the Virginia Convention

Rhetoric The art of using language persuasively. SituationPurposeAudienceMethod Ethos Ethos Pathos Pathos Logos Logos Appeals based upon perceived reputation. Appeals based upon emotions. Appeals based upon logic. (We will study these shortly!)

Authors we will study Benjamin Franklin Thomas Paine Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson Oludah Equiano

Facts about Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was the embodiment of the American Dream-came from poverty to achieve fame and fortune. America’s first millionaire He was an inventor, scientist, statesman, printer, philosopher, diplomat, and writer. He invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, the rocking chair, the lightning rod, the odometer. He established the first public library, the first fire company, and the first fire insurance company.

Poor Richard’s Almanack Poor Richard’s Almanack sold 10 thousand copies Contained many aphorisms: Short pointed statements that express a wide or clever observation about the human experience. “Never confuse motion with action.”

Patrick Henry Born 1736 Died 1799 Educated by his father (including reading Latin). Studied law on his own.

Henry was a lawyer and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses First governor of Virginia under the new constitution Five-term governor of Virginia Henry was also a well know orator (speaker)

“Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” “Speech” was delivered in 1775 Patrick Henry urged his fellow Virginians to arm in self-defense, closing his appeal with the immortal words: "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

He was dissatisfied with the federal constitution and opposed its ratification in He felt that it gave the general government too much power.

Thomas Jefferson Wrote The Declaration of Independence, the most important American document of the 18 th Century in Born in 1743 in Virginia Was the 3 rd of 10 children During his youth, studied for 15 hours a day Had a great love for music, especially the violin

Served as the 3 rd president of the US for two terms Believed that all men are created equal Jefferson was a lawyer before entering politics Created separation of church and state

Believed that slavery was a war on humanity; we are all born free in nature Designed the University of Virginia and his own personal residence Monticello. Died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (the same day as John Adams).