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The Age of Reason1745-1800
Authors:
The Revolutionary War Period
•Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
•Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
•Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
“I think, therefore I am.”God’s special gift to humanity—the ability to think.
The Enlightenment:•Began in Europe (17th century)
•Emerged with modern science and the scientific method
•Influenced by Sir Isaac Newton’s view of universe
•Belief in unlimited possibilities when guided by reason
Rationalism is the belief that we can arrive at truth by using our reason rather than relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition.
Rene’ Descartes
Deism: The Beliefs•The existence of deity
•God made the universe orderly and good
•God governs the world with His Providence
•The most acceptable service of God is doing good to man
•Souls are immortal and good
•Crimes will be punished and virtue rewarded either here or hereafter
•God made it possible for all people at all times to discover natural laws through their faculty of reason.
Sir Isaac Newton
Content:•Rooted in reality
•Wrote about social, political, and scientific improvements
•Primarily non-fiction—pamphlets
•Intended to serve practical or political ends
1706-1790
Only write the last line:
Printer, postmaster, almanac maker, essayist, chemist, orator, tinker, statesman, humorist, philosopher, parlor man, political economist, professor of housewifery, ambassador, projector, maxim-monger, herb-doctor, wit: Jack of all trades, master of each and mastered by none—the type and genius of the land, Franklin was everything but a poet.
By Herman Melville
•Classic American success story—a self-made man
•Rags to Riches
The Autobiographyby Benjamin Franklin
Audience: son or those interested in improvement
Style: personal narrative (unquestioned masterpiece of the American Age of Reason)
Purpose: self-help book
1736-1799:
•Lawyer
•Age 29 involved in politics
•Master orator
•Dramatic orator
•1st great speech against Stamp Act
•Powerful Virginia politician
Speech to the Virginia Conventionby Patrick Henry
•Audience: Virginia delegates
•Purpose: to gather support for a proposed resolution to approve the formation of a local militia, to declare war
•Style: persuasive
•a call to action
•proof supporting speaker’s position and motives
•a heightened style
1743-1826
•Virginia gentleman, politician, governor, Renaissance man
•Classically educated
•Lawyer and writer
•3rd President of United States of America
•Louisiana Purchase
•Died on 50th anniversary of the independence (7/4/1826)
•Wrote his own epitaph
Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.
His epitaph . . .
Declaration of Independenceby Thomas Jefferson
•Audience: King of Britain
•Style: a declaration
•Purpose: to declare independence
4 Parts of the Declaration:
1. Preamble
2. Indictment
3. Denunciation
4. Conclusion