1. American Literature 1700-1820 The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason

2. Let’s Party Like It’s 1699! 18 th century was a period of major change in American ideas and ideals… As with beliefs of Puritans, changes originated in England, but took on new spirit and meaning in colonies. What factors help explain the movement away from the severe faith of the Puritans?

3. Characteristics of the 18 th Century Experimentation in science Economic concept of laissez-faire The presence of the frontier The development of rational religion known as deism Scientific curiosity Growth in nationalism Growth in materialism The age of the gifted amateur Belief in progressivism

4. How Things Were Changing Enlightenment brought a new, exciting way of seeing the universe… The universe as an orderly system With the application of reason, humanity would comprehend universe. How might this change the way the common man felt about religion and God? Not necessarily a rejection of faith, but…

5. Central Themes National mission and American character Democratic utopia Use of reason History is an act of individual and national self-assertion

6. Genre/Style Political pamphlets Travel writing Highly ornate writing style Fiction employs generic plots and characters

7. Effect Patriotism grows Instills pride Creates common agreement about issues Shows differences between Americans and Europeans

8. Common Beliefs Faith in natural goodness - a human is born without taint or sin; the concept of tabula rasa or blank slate. Perfectibility of a human being - it is possible to improve situations of birth, economy, society, and religion. The sovereignty of reason - echoes of Rene Descartes' cogito ergo sum or I think, therefore, I am Universal benevolence - the attitude of helping everyone. Outdated social institutions cause unsociable behavior - religious, social, economic, and political institutions, which have not modernized, force individuals into unacceptable behavior.

9. Functions of the Writers of this Period A searching inquiry in all aspects of the world around. Interest in the classics as well as in the Bible. Interest in nature - the "absentee landlord" phenomenon. Interest in science and scientific experiments. Optimism - experiments in utopian communities Sense of a person's duty to succeed. Constant search of the self - emphasis on individualism in: Personal religion. Study of the Bible for personal interpretation.

10. Newton and His Apple (not a fig) How did people like Locke and Newton change the way we understand the world? What are “physics” and “metaphysics”? To what does “reason” refer? What does it exclude?

11. Say What?!?! Enlightenment thinkers de-emphasized “grace” and “pre-destination” in favor of “moral choice” and scientific inquiry. ▫“virtue,” “order,” “reason,” “sympathy” How do you think religious figures felt about this changing view of the universe and how people should function within it?

12. But What About Providence? Enlightenment brought a new, exciting way of seeing the universe… universe as an orderly system With application of reason, humanity would comprehend universe (think of Newton’s Laws). How might this change the way the common man felt about religion and God? ▫Not necessarily a rejection…

13. “I Just Believe in Science, Okay!” “Know then thyself, presume not God to scan/The proper study of mankind is man.” (Alexander Pope) What does that mean?

14. Deism Many of these thinkers (including Jefferson and Franklin) called themselves “Deists.” Man can deduce the existence of a supreme being from the fact that the universe exists rather than because of what the Bible says.

15. What about Fire and Brimstone? Deists also thought that a harmonious universe proves the beneficence of God. How might that be?

16. Take Your Buckled Shoes and Shove ‘Em! Humankind is naturally good. (What was the Puritan stance on this, again?) “Tabula Rasa” – blank slate The more we understand and sympathize with each other, the richer our social and spiritual lives will be.

17. And Furthermore… “Our business here on Earth is not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct.” (Locke) So are these people entirely different from the Puritans? What’s similar? Founders and Faith? ▫“Nature’s God,” “natural rights” and “public religion”

18. Neo-Classicism What would be the best way for writers in this era to articulate their views? What is the function of their writing, and how does it differ from the function of Puritan writing? Are there similarities?

19. Rhetoric Today this term means “the art of speaking or writing effectively (especially persuasive speaking or writing).” In Franklin’s time the term meant the same thing, but more precisely it stood for “the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times.” Logic A system of rules used to express reasoning Reason If one is “rational,” then he has the ability “to reason.” What does it mean to reason? Reasoning is a type of thinking used to seek a truth through cause and effect and through drawing conclusions. Socratic Method A technique in which a debater does not argue directly but instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the opponent comes either to the desired knowledge by answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the limits of his knowledge.

20. Those Greeks Had It Right… These writers saw the lit. of the ancient Greeks and Romans as the ideal to which all must aspire. Emulation of these “classical” styles and traditions Restraint rather than emotion Dignified, refined and decorous language

21. Should We Be Wearing Togas? Writing, especially poetry, was seen as having a public function; it was not seen as a means for private, individual expression. A mode through which timeless truths could be imparted. “self-help” “Chicken Soup for the Rational Soul”?

22. Artifacts of Different Eras Thou hast a house on high erect, Framed by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished, Stands permanent though this be fled. It’s purchased and paid for too By Him who hath enough to do. A price so vast as is unknown Yet by His gift is made thine own; There’s wealth enough, I need no more, Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store. The world no longer let me love, My hope and treasure lies above. (Bradstreet, 1666) While virtue warms the generous breast, There heaven-born freedom shall reside, Nor shall the voice of war molest, Nor Europe’s all-aspiring pride – There Reason shall new laws devise, And order from confusion rise. Forsaking kings and regal state, With all their pomp and fancied bliss, The traveler [admits], convinced though late, No realm so free, so blessed as this – The east is half to slaves consigned, Where kings and priests enchain the mind. (“On the Religion of Nature,” Philip Freneau, 1785)

23. Order and Virtue We should organize our lives into an ordered sequence of reasoned and virtuous thoughts and behaviors Aim is “human perfection” How would the Puritans have felt about the concept of humans perfecting themselves for themselves and by themselves?

25. The Declaration of Independence The American Declaration of Independence was written to lay out in firm terms the purposes behind the American Revolution so that anyone who was in doubt about whether or not it was justified would understand the reasoning that the "rebels" held.

26. Four Purposes of the Declaration Get reluctant colonists on board to create a unified home front against Great Britain Explain the colonists' position on the purpose of human government List their specific grievances against King George III to show the justification of their actions Encourage foreign nations to help them in their quest to overthrow British rule

27. There are 6 Sections of the Declaration The first part is the Preamble ▫It states that the reason the colonists wrote the Declaration was to tell the world why they were separating from Britain. ▫"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

28. Part 2 The second part could be called a "statement of belief.“ ▫It tells the beliefs of the colonists about human rights and the purpose of government. It begins with the familiar phrase: ▫"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

29. Part 3 The third section lists all of the specific complaints the colonists had about the King's conduct. ▫This is one of the most important parts of the Declaration because it tells exactly what the colonists were angry about. ▫Read this section to get a good understanding of the causes behind the Revolutionary War. ▫This section of the Declaration of Independence is a prime example of parallel structure “He Has”

30. Parts 4 & 5 The fourth section recounts the colonists past attempts to get the King to redress their grievances. The fifth section is the actual declaration of independence from Great Britain: ▫"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America... declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."

31. Part 6 The sixth and final section is the signatures. Who were the Signers of the Declaration and what happened to them? John HancockButton GwinnettWilliam HooperSamuel ChaseRobert Morris William FloydJosiah BartlettLyman HallJoseph HewesWilliam Paca Benjamin RushPhilip LivingstonWilliam WhippleGeorge WaltonJohn Penn Thomas StoneBenjamin FranklinFrancis LewisSamuel AdamsEdward Rutledge John MortonLewis MorrisJohn AdamsThomas Heyward, Jr.George Wythe George ClymerRichard StocktonRobert Treat PaineThomas Lynch, Jr.Richard Henry Lee James SmithJohn WitherspoonElbridge GerryArthur Middleton Thomas Jefferson George TaylorFrancis HopkinsonStephen HopkinsBenjamin Harrison James Wilson John HartWilliam ElleryThomas Nelson, Jr.George RossAbraham Clark Roger ShermanFrancis Lightfoot LeeCaesar RodneySamuel Huntington Carter Braxton George ReadWilliam WilliamsThomas McKeanOliver WolcottMatthew Thornton Charles Carroll of Carrollton

32. Assignment Choose one of the signers of the Declaration and answer the following questions: ▫Who was he ▫Where was he from ▫Why did he sign ▫What happened to him Format for your Assignment ▫Digital – One Page Power Point Slide ▫Must be Color ▫Must be Illustrated