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The Age of Reason
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Overview End of 17th Century Also known as “The Age of Reason”
New ideas in Europe challenged ideas of the Puritans The age of “tinkerers and experimenters”
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Rationalism The belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on… Authority of the past Religious faith Intuition
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A New View of God Contrast to Puritan belief that God is actively involved Believed God created the universe and left it to run on its own (like a clock) How does it run??? on REASON! (logical thinking)
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Important Progress Revolutionary War Independence from Great Britain
Huge emphasis on science and philosophy
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The Smallpox Plague Came by ship in 1721 ½ of Boston’s population died
Cotton Mather: “Let us look upon sin as the cause of sickness.” Started controversial campaign for inoculation Conflict between science and religion
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Deism Sought principles to unite all religions Beliefs
The world is orderly and good People are inherently good Humans are perfectible (through reason!) Best form of worship is to do good for others Origins of social welfare programs
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Self-Made Americans Belief in the American Dream
Classic tale of rags to riches ALL people can be successful regardless of heredity Ideals: reason, industriousness, perseverance, self-reliance, progress
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Writings Essays Pamphlets PERSUASION Personal narratives:
Franklin’s Autobiography
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Important Writers Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine
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