1. The Age of Reason

2. 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”

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Important Progress Revolutionary War Independence from Great Britain
Huge emphasis on science and philosophy

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Writings Essays Pamphlets PERSUASION Personal narratives:
Franklin’s Autobiography

10. Important Writers Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine