THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD AND THE AGE

OF REASON

1750-1800

Focus on “REASON”

By the end of the 1700s, the Puritan influence on America began to decrease. Remember, the Puritans had preached that humans were basically evil and were only saved by the grace of God.

Ideas from Europe now said that humans were basically good. Writers used reason and logic –instead of the teachings of the

Bible –to support their arguments. Even better, they could use reason to accomplish just about

anything. It was an optimistic, rational view of life. People had come from all over Europe to the American

colonies. But were the colonists happy, overall, with the situation

they were in?

Of Course NOT…

1765 Parliament passes the Stamp Act, which taxes newspapers, almanacs, and legal documents in the colonies

1770 Boston Massacre (5 civilians die at the hands of British soldiers)

December 1773 The Boston Tea Party 1774 Intolerable Acts passed by King George III April 19, 1775 Revolutionary War begins July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence

approved by Second Continental Congress 1783 United States wins its independence

How do the events of a given time influence what is written?

But how did the Revolutionary War affect the literature that was

produced? The most important pieces of literature

during the AGE OF REASON, were political documents, speeches, and pamphlets(short, concise works that usually argue for or against a political cause.)

Non-fiction (such as the forms mentioned above) was far more influential than fiction.

List of political documents that are part of the Age of Reason

The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson (political document)

Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention

Thomas Paine’s The Crisis (pamphlet) Works of Benjamin Franklin (aphorisms

printed in Poor Richard’s Almanack)

How Writing Changed

Writing was less private and religiously based

Writing came away from the Plain Style and became full of flourish and colorful language

Writing was influenced by the Revolutionary War and the growing American spirit of individualism and self-reliance.

Patrick Henry (1736 – 1799)

Young lawyer gifted in public speaking Elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses at the

age of 29 Speech to the Second Virginia Convention on

March 23, 1775 Argued boldly for the colonists’ right to make their

own laws Henry could stir his fellow citizens to action by

using words. Some of his famous phrases

“If this be treason, make the most of it!” “Give me liberty or give me death!”

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Paine had been a failure at everything he tried before coming to America, but once here he wrote two pamphlets that became instant best-sellers. His writing helped turn public opinion

against the British. Paine published Common Sense

anonymously It was the first pamphlet in America to openly

propose immediate separation from Britain. In Dec. 1776, he published a series of 16

essays called The Crisis, which helped gain more support for the cause of independence.

Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 Franklin is probably one of the most widely-

recognized of the early American authors. Author of Poor Richard’s Almanack He was a world-respected statesman, publisher,

writer, and scientist. Played a central role in writing Declaration of

Independence and establishing good relations with France, without whose support we might not have won our independence.

Franklin’s The Autobiography is considered his masterpiece.

Ticket out the door…

1. Give two characteristics of the Age of Reason.

2. Name 2 authors that represent the Age of Reason.

3. Answer the following question: Why were political documents so important during the Age of Reason?