A Nation is Born

A Nation is BornA Nation is Born

American LiteratureAmerican Literature

1750-18001750-1800

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

Also known as the Also known as the EnlightenmentEnlightenment, the , the 1818thth CenturyCentury (the 1700’s), the (the 1700’s), the Age of ReasonAge of Reason is is characterized by characterized by a shift from the power of a shift from the power of “faith” to the power of “reason.”“faith” to the power of “reason.”

Partly a reaction to the strict Puritan Partly a reaction to the strict Puritan values, the Age of Reason focused less on values, the Age of Reason focused less on the afterlife, and more on the the afterlife, and more on the power of power of reason and science to further human reason and science to further human progressprogress..

The ScientistsThe Scientists

The scientists of the Age of Reason were The scientists of the Age of Reason were heavily influenced by 17heavily influenced by 17thth century century scientists scientists GalileoGalileo and and Sir Issac NewtonSir Issac Newton. .

Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei

GalileoGalileo is best known for is best known for his battle with the Catholic his battle with the Catholic Church over his belief in Church over his belief in the the sun being the center sun being the center of the galaxyof the galaxy, instead of , instead of the Earth (known as the Earth (known as Copernicanism, Copernicanism, for for Copernicus, who came up Copernicus, who came up with the theory of the with the theory of the Earth not being at the Earth not being at the center of the galaxy).center of the galaxy).

Sir Issac NewtonSir Issac Newton

Sir Issac NewtonSir Issac Newton is best is best known for “discovering” known for “discovering” gravitygravity. .

Newton built the first Newton built the first practical practical reflecting telescopereflecting telescope and developed a and developed a theory of theory of colourcolour based on the based on the observation that a observation that a prism prism decomposes white light into decomposes white light into the many colours that form the many colours that form the visible spectrumthe visible spectrum..

The PhilosophersThe Philosophers

VoltaireVoltaire VoltaireVoltaire was known for was known for

his writings in favor of his writings in favor of the the freedom of freedom of religionreligion, civil liberties , civil liberties and and criticizing criticizing organized religion, organized religion, intoleranceintolerance and the and the French institutionsFrench institutions of of his time.his time.

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau is is best known for his “best known for his “Social Social ContractContract”, which basically ”, which basically states that people give up states that people give up their “natural desires” for the their “natural desires” for the benefit of the society. benefit of the society.

By doing what is best for By doing what is best for society, man achieves society, man achieves freedomfreedom because he is because he is protected from the will of the protected from the will of the powerful.powerful.

Political TheoristsPolitical Theorists

Political theorist Political theorist John LockeJohn Locke was the was the springboard for many of the American springboard for many of the American Political Theorists.Political Theorists.

He is best known for his belief in He is best known for his belief in innate innate rights, such as life, liberty, health or rights, such as life, liberty, health or possessionspossessions. His beliefs directly . His beliefs directly influenced, and were echoed in, the influenced, and were echoed in, the Declaration of Independence (by Thomas Declaration of Independence (by Thomas Jefferson)Jefferson)

The American Political The American Political TheoristsTheorists

American writers American writers Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas PaineBenjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine were influenced by the writings of John were influenced by the writings of John Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau.Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau.

What is most notable about the American What is most notable about the American political theorists is that political theorists is that they took the they took the ideasideas of the French writers and of the French writers and put them put them into practiceinto practice in the new American in the new American government.government.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Best known for Best known for

writing a majority of writing a majority of the the Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence and and for being the for being the country’s country’s third third presidentpresident. .

He was also a huge He was also a huge proponent of the proponent of the separation of church separation of church and state. and state.

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin is is known for discoveries known for discoveries and theories about and theories about electricityelectricity..

He He invented bifocals, the invented bifocals, the lightning rod and the lightning rod and the carriage odometercarriage odometer. He . He also started the also started the first first lending librarylending library and the and the first fire department in first fire department in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania. .

Thomas PaineThomas Paine

Paine is best know for Paine is best know for his writings “his writings “Common Common SenseSense” and “” and “The The American CrisisAmerican Crisis.” Both .” Both were heavily influential were heavily influential in inspiring the in inspiring the American Revolution.American Revolution.

He wrote against He wrote against organized religion and organized religion and was the was the first to propose first to propose a “minimum wage”a “minimum wage”

Shifting TidesShifting Tides

The French and Indian War begins in 1754. At The French and Indian War begins in 1754. At the war’s end in 1759, England gains control of the war’s end in 1759, England gains control of North American territories once held by France.North American territories once held by France.

In 1756, England institutes the Stamp Act, a tax In 1756, England institutes the Stamp Act, a tax intended to regain money lost in the French and intended to regain money lost in the French and Indian war by taxing the colonies.Indian war by taxing the colonies.

-this tax, of course, is very unpopular among the -this tax, of course, is very unpopular among the colonials. colonials.

Further UnrestFurther Unrest

In 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act, further In 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act, further raising taxes on the colonies.raising taxes on the colonies.

In response, colonials (dressed as Mohawk In response, colonials (dressed as Mohawk Indians) dumped a shipment of tea into Boston Indians) dumped a shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. This was known as the “Boston Tea Harbor. This was known as the “Boston Tea Party.”Party.”

In retaliation, Parliament passes the Coercive In retaliation, Parliament passes the Coercive Acts, which forbade meetings other than annual Acts, which forbade meetings other than annual town meetings, required colonials to house town meetings, required colonials to house British soldiers, and shut down Boston Harbor.British soldiers, and shut down Boston Harbor.

The American RevolutionThe American Revolution On April 19, 1775, 700 British redcoats faced 70 On April 19, 1775, 700 British redcoats faced 70

colonial militiamen at Lexington. After this first colonial militiamen at Lexington. After this first conflict, eight colonials lay dead. conflict, eight colonials lay dead.

This became known as “the Shot Heard Round This became known as “the Shot Heard Round the World.”the World.”

IndependenceIndependence

In 1776, at the Second Continental In 1776, at the Second Continental Congress, representatives from the 13 Congress, representatives from the 13 colonies sign the Declaration of colonies sign the Declaration of Independence.Independence.

In 1778, France recognizes U.S. In 1778, France recognizes U.S. independence and signs a treaty of independence and signs a treaty of alliance. With France’s help, the U.S. wins alliance. With France’s help, the U.S. wins the war with England and becomes an the war with England and becomes an independent nation.independent nation.

Writing of the Writing of the Revolutionary PeriodRevolutionary Period

A majority of the writing in this period was A majority of the writing in this period was centered around centered around political ideaspolitical ideas. The mind . The mind of the nation was on politics.of the nation was on politics.

In contrast to the private soul-searching of In contrast to the private soul-searching of the Puritans, the Puritans, much of the writing in the much of the writing in the Revolutionary Period was publicRevolutionary Period was public. .

Standing the Test of TimeStanding the Test of Time

Most of the writing which remains Most of the writing which remains important from that time period is important from that time period is political political in nature.in nature.

Though the Declaration of Independence, Though the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense are crucial in this period, Common Sense are crucial in this period, the the most lasting piecemost lasting piece of Revolutionary of Revolutionary Period writing is the Period writing is the Constitution of the Constitution of the United StatesUnited States..

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

Surprisingly, the Surprisingly, the writers of the writers of the Constitution only Constitution only figured it would only figured it would only last a generationlast a generation. . With only 27 With only 27 amendments, it has amendments, it has lasted over 250 lasted over 250 years.years.

Unlimited PotentialUnlimited Potential

Though much had been written in the Though much had been written in the colonies, most of it was in the form of colonies, most of it was in the form of essays, pamphlets, letters and public essays, pamphlets, letters and public documentsdocuments..

There were, however, There were, however, no American novels no American novels or plays of importanceor plays of importance, and the , and the modern modern short story had yet to be inventedshort story had yet to be invented. .