1. Revolutionary Literature
The Age of Reason

2. Overview
American writing began to be aimed at a specific audience---that of Revolutionary America & ties to England.
Writing no longer seen as a personal religious exercise.
Writing began to become public in 3 major stages.

3. 3 Major Stages: Stage 1
Complaints to the British government; statements of American grievances.
James Otis
John Dickinson

4. 3 Major Stages: Stage 2
Following outbreak of armed conflict—no longer hope of reconciliation; makes assertion of “free & independent” states.
Thomas Paine
Patrick Henry

5. 3 Major Stages: Stage 3
As Revolution progressed to American victory, literature turned to debate concerning form of government for the new states.
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson

6. Literature Appealed to reason instead of emotion.
Appealed to rational thought instead of feelings.
Leading concerns of the period:
State of life on earth
Lighter interest in the supernatural
Focus on science, ethics, & government—NOT religion

7. Writers of the “Age of Reason”
By using REASON, humans could manage themselves & societies without depending on authorities or past traditions.
REASON thrived on freedom: of speech; from arbitrary rules; to experiment; to question existing laws & institutions.
By REASON, humans could progress; social evils could be corrected; superstition & ignorance could end; general quality of existence could improve.

8. The Enlightenment European catalyst for the American “Age of Reason.”
Led to complex new thought—Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Diderot
Sequel to the Renaissance & revival of learning in the Western World
Prompted revolutionary changes in government & society
Changes prevailed in Europe sooner than America, BUT it motivated political change in America earlier than Europe BECAUSE…..

9. Political Change PIONEERING STOCK!
America was isolated enough and new enough to innovate readily.
America had been populated by the most enterprising and innovating of the Europeans…
PIONEERING STOCK!

10. DEISM: HUMAN—most active agent in nature
“CLOCKMAKER” God—designed the cosmic machine & left it to run accordingly
GOD—gave humanity abundance for needs & pleasure & gave capability of making use of them
HUMANS are morally capable
HUMANS have God-given “natural rights” to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
OPTIMISM: humans have the ability for improvement
LIBERAL in thought—favorable to change; convinced of the possibility of a better state of being which change might produce

11. Two Schools of Thought
Benjamin Franklin: ingenious inventions for human comfort
Thomas Jefferson: hatred of restrictions on human inquiry