The Age of Reason & The Revolutionary Period

The Age of Reason (1700-1789)

Beliefs of these writers:1. Humans could manage

themselves and their societies using reason and without depending on authorities and traditions.

The Age of Reason (1700-1789)

2. Reason thrived on freedom—of speech, from rulers, to experiment and question.

3. The free use of reason could correct social evils, end superstition and ignorance, and improve the quality of existence.

The Age of Reason (1700-1789)

• Unlike the Puritans, the writers had little interest in the hereafter or supernatural.

• They tended to write on science, ethics, or government rather than religion.

The Revolutionary Period1760-1800

• The American Revolution was fought not only with muskets but also with thousands of pamphlets, essays, songs, poems, and speeches.

• Propaganda, persuasion, and political writing came to dominate the writing scene.

STUDENTS:Begin taking notes

here!

Persuasive Techniques

• LOGICAL APPEALS- rely on logic and facts to support a claim.

• EMOTIONAL APPEALS- present ideas and images that elicit strong feelings.

• ETHICAL APPEALS- use values or moral standards that are widely accepted as a way to persuade an audience.

Rhetorical Devices

• RHETORICAL QUESTION-a question to which no answer is expected (But when shall we be stronger?)

• ANTITHESIS- expresses contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical structures (Give me liberty, or give me death!)

Rhetorical Devices

• REPETITION- the use of the same word or phrase more than once for emphasis.

• PARALLELISM- a kind of repetition in which words or phrases in the same grammatical form connect ideas. (Is life so dear, or peace so sweet…)

“Speech in the Virginia Convention”

1. What is Patrick Henry’s opinion of the delegates who addressed the convention before him?

2. Henry refers to a lamp that guides him. What is this “lamp”?

3. What does Henry indicate are the signs that the British are planning to attack?

4. Henry rejects the possibility of Americans gaining their rights simply by asking the King to grant them. Why?

5. Give one example for each type of rhetorical device from this speech.

The Declaration of Independence

• Jefferson wanted to emphasize the logical argument to be made for independence.

• Three important parts of an argument are (1) the claim, (2) support, (3) counterarguments

The Declaration of IndependenceFour main parts:1. Preamble- announces the reason

for the document2. Declaration of people’s natural

rights and relationship to government

3. List of complaints against George III, the British king

4. Conclusion that formally states America’s independence

The Declaration of Independence1. What claim does Jefferson present in

the preamble?2. What does Jefferson say is the purpose

of government? (lines 9-10)3. According to Jefferson, when do people

have the right to alter or abolish a government? (line 11-12)

4. According to Jefferson, what, in general, do the colonists object to about the way laws are made and enforced in the colonies?

The Declaration of Independence5. Why might the list of complaints make

up the largest part of the Declaration?6. According to Jefferson, what have the

colonists done repeatedly each time they felt that they had been wronged? (Iines 91-92)

7. What does the last part of the document say about the colonies’ relationship with Great Britain? (lines 110-111)

8. Name three complaints that the colonists had against the king that you might have found to be most offensive:1.2.3.

9. What rights are specified in the Declaration? (Line 9)

10. On the basis of Jefferson’s evidence, were the colonies justified in their rebellion? Would you have supported the colonies quest for independence? Write a paragraph to support your opinion.