1. American Literature The Age of Reason (1750 - 1800)

2. The Age of Reason The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, began in Europe with the philosophers and scientists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who called themselves rationalists.

3. The Age of Reason Rationalism is the belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition.

4. The Age of Reason Rationalism Like the Puritans, the rationalists discovered God through the medium of the natural world but in a different way: Deism.

5. The Age of Reason Deism The belief that God makes it possible for all people at all times to discover natural laws through their God-given power of reason.

6. The Age of Reason Deism Deists believed that the universe was orderly and good. In contrast to the Puritans, deists stressed human goodness.

7. The Age of Reason Three Events Which Shifted The Puritan Era to The Age of Reason:  The Salem Witch Trials  Smallpox Plague  Revolutionary War

8. The Age of Reason Smallpox Plague April 1721, a ship from the West Indies docked in Boston Harbor. It brought sugar, molasses, and smallpox.

9. The Age of Reason Smallpox Plague Puritan minister Cotton Mather stated, “Let us not look to sin as a cause of sickness.” Mather had heard of a Turkish physician who had a seemingly illogical solution called inoculation.

10. The Age of Reason Smallpox Plague Cotton Mather inoculated 300 people; only six of his patients died. Of the 6000 other residents of Boston who contracted the disease, 850 died.

11. The Age of Reason Important Authors of The Age of Reason:  Benjamin Franklin  Patrick Henry  Thomas Paine  Thomas Jefferson

12. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and Poor Richard’s Almanack Read “ from The Autobiography” and “Poor Richard’s Almanack” …and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Pages 67 – 74...and from The Autobiography supplement in the Resource file in Mr. Adcock’s English III webpage

13. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and Poor Richard’s Almanack Read “ from The Autobiography” and “Poor Richard’s Almanack” …and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Pages 67 – 74 Complete Handout by the end of the hour!

14. The Age of Reason Edgenuity Assignment I: (Assigned Nov. 3)  Adcock/English III/Website Resources  User Name (last name + first three letters of first) – Password  Select: USD 331 ENGLISH III - 1127 (ELA3011) FM  Select Course Map (bottom right)  Select Thomas Paine (left column)  Start with WARM UP …continue through menu.

15. The Age of Reason Edgenuity Assignment II: (Assigned Nov. 5)  Adcock/English III/Website Resources  User Name (last name + first three letters of first) – Password  Select: USD 331 ENGLISH III - 1127 (ELA3011) FM  Select Course Map (bottom right)  Select Declaration of Independence (left column)  Start with WARM UP …continue through menu.