Literature of the Revolution

Literature of the Revolution

The Age of Reason

Profound changes took place in western world European and African populations in North

America grow – from 250,000 in 1700 to 5,000,000 in 1800

Continuous westward expansion displaced Native Americans

Ethnic diversity, economic strength, Enlightenment ideals laid foundation for the United States

18th Century – Age of Reason, Enlightenment

Age of Reason began in 17th Century England, spread to

France and Europe, then to colonies Rene Descartes rejected medieval authoritarianism Voltaire’s writings attacked dogmatism 1662 – Founding of the Royal Society of London for the

“improvement of natural knowledge” (beginnings of Scientific Revolution)

Isaac Newton’s discoveries Natural universe can be understood by any person A single mathematical law accounts for natural movements

Modern science begins weakening faith in miracles, holy books, idea of divinity of kings

Illuminating the Enlightenment

John Locke – morality is capable of demonstration,

just as mathematics is Benjamin Franklin – advocated reasonable “science

of virtue” Thomas Paine – wrote The Age of Reason – attacked

irrationality of traditional Christianity Theology became rational; religion became deistic

Deism – informal, unorganized religious movement among upper classes and intellectuals

Idea of God as the Clockmaker – engineered the universe then let it run

Age of Reason - Morality

Humanitarianism, natural philosophy,

scientific observation Progress became dominant concept of the age Movements arose for social betterment, prison

reform, sympathy for Native Americans, slaves, the poor and oppressed

Enlightenment Morality

John Locke’s Treatises of Civil Government (1690) –

governments resulted from agreements between people, not divinely ordained from God to kings to men

Enlightenment was an age of dissent, revolution Human mind is a tabula rasa – a blank slate – thus man is

born neither good nor bad, but is the result of experiences By end of 18th Century – faith in human perfectibility Thomas Paine wrote and spoke of the rights of man (and

woman) Thomas Jefferson – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness”

Enlightenment and Government

Beginning of 18th Century – colonies had one newspaper; by

1800 there were 200 newspapers Benjamin Franklin began the first American magazine in

Philadelphia in 1741 Franklin exemplified and wrote secular ideas, humanist

concepts, scientific ideas, master of diplomacy; he was instrumental in starting libraries, schools, hospitals, urban fire stations, the post office

American writing was patterned on 18th Century English writing, but lagged behind slightly

American literature in the 18th Century was dominated by pamphlets, essays, journal articles, newspapers, and the political documents we still use

An Emerging American Literature

Many lived at same time as Puritans like

Edwards, but they focused their energies on matters of government rather than religion

Gifted minds of the period drawn to political writing – effort to launch a grand experiment in government

Writers of the Revolution

Pamphlet most important outlet for these political

writings – 2000 published from 1763-1783 Inexpensive “little books” that fueled the

Revolution, reaching thousands of people quickly, stirring debate and action in response to growing discontent with British rule

Common Sense by Thomas Paine – expressed views of rational Enlightenment while retaining Puritan belief that America had a special destiny to be a model to the rest of the world

Pamphlets and Propaganda

Declaration of Independence – articulates

the natural law that would govern America – idea that people are born with rights and freedoms and that it is the function of government to protect those freedoms

Constitution of the United States of America – founding document

Writing that Launched a Nation

Beyond statesmen, many others contributed

to political writings, even in poetry Women, Native Americans, colonists, Puritans,

and patriots all gave voice to understandings of the dreams and values that shaped the nation; all were part of building this “city upon a hill”

Voices of the People

American Revolution was an upper-class rebellion Not everyone benefited from “life, liberty, and

pursuit of happiness” Forcible removal of Native Americans became U.S.

policy after revolution “science” and “reason” were used to justify slavery

and the “inferiority of darker races” Nevertheless, founding documents have been

interpreted in modern times to support freedoms and liberties for minorities, the poor, and women

Enlightenment Contradictions

Perfect example of “poor boy makes good”

Born Boston, the 15th child of a poor candlemaker Apprenticed to brother (a printer) By 16 yrs. old, a master printer writing for brother’s

newspaper Used pen name Silence Dogood to write satirical comedy on

Boston society, politics, religion At 17, began publishing Poor Richard’s Almanack At 42, wealthy and famous, retired from business to devote

his life to science and public service Organized American Philosophical Society, the University of

Pennsylvania, first charity hospital; invented bifocals and lightning rod, made discoveries about electricity

Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790)

1757-1775 – represented colonies in England Returned to Philadelphia, named delegate to

Second Constitutional Congress and part of committee writing Declaration of Independence

1776 – Congress sent him to be minister to France, to seek aid for faltering revolution

Negotiated treaty with France against England 1778 Named delegate to Constitutional Convention in

Philadelphia, worked to gain ratification of Constitution

Benjamin Franklin

Only American to sign all four documents that created

the Republic: Declaration of Independence Treaty of Alliance with France Treaty of Peace with England U.S. Constitution

At his death, considered the Father of the United States Helped create cult of self-reliance – beginnings of

transcendentalism and industrial society Remains most influential and most read of American

writers

Benjamin Franklin

Born Thetford, England, son of Quaker farmer

and corset-maker After attending grammar school, worked as

staymaker for his father, then served as sailor, schoolteacher, government tax collector

By 37, had failed at a variety of professions, declared a bankrupt

Met Franklin in London, left for America with letter of introduction from Franklin

Wrote for Pennsylvania Magazine

Thomas Paine(1737-1809)

Published Common Sense January 1776 – filled with

rhetoric of revolution, called for independence from England Within 5 moths, 100,000 copies distributed in colonies

1776, published first of the Crisis papers – argued for revolution, independence “These are the times that try men’s souls . . .”

After Revolution, British government charged him with sedition

Completed The Age of Reason in Paris 1794-96 – attacked irrationality of religion and supported deism; vilified by clerics and journalists

Thomas Paine

Man of encyclopedic knowledge and accomplishments Policeman, statesman, artist, scientist, inventor, patron of

education, literary stylist, servant of the Republic Governor Virginia – 1770-1781 American Minister to France – 1797-1801 Secretary of State – 1790-1793 Vice President – 1797-1801 President – 1801-1809 Commissioned Lewis & Clark Expedition – 1801-1803 Founded University of Virginia Founded Democratic Party Louisiana Purchase – 1803 (doubled size of U.S.)

Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826)

Born central Virginia At 17, started library that ultimately became

the Library of Congress Sent with delegation to Second Constitutional

Congress in Philadelphia Selected to draft Declaration of Independence An egalitarian, opposed the limelight, supported

aristocracy – “rule of the best”; a poor military leader, no orator, but brilliant at writing political prose

Thomas Jefferson