Head Honchos of Head Honchos of HistoryHistory

The Biggest Hits of the The Biggest Hits of the Enlightenment- America StyleEnlightenment- America Style

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

►Reason over emotionReason over emotion►European philosophical movement applying European philosophical movement applying

scientific reasoning to all aspects of life scientific reasoning to all aspects of life including aesthetics, logic, and ethicsincluding aesthetics, logic, and ethics

►1717 thth and 18 and 18 thth Centuries in Europe, but the Centuries in Europe, but the philosophy heavily influences the leaders philosophy heavily influences the leaders who would become American who would become American revolutionariesrevolutionaries

Key Ideologies and Figures Key Ideologies and Figures

►Power of reason and science to further Power of reason and science to further human progresshuman progress

►Little interest in life after death- focus shifts Little interest in life after death- focus shifts from piety and religious influence to gov’tfrom piety and religious influence to gov’t

►NewtonNewton►GalileoGalileo►CopernicusCopernicus►KeplerKepler

Influential Thinkers Influential Thinkers

►Baron de Montesquieu- sharing power Baron de Montesquieu- sharing power among classes, separation of powersamong classes, separation of powers

►Thomas Hobbes- gov’t necessary for order; Thomas Hobbes- gov’t necessary for order; gov’t as contract between citizens and their gov’t as contract between citizens and their ruler; gov’t should ensure peace and ruler; gov’t should ensure peace and security through whatever means necessarysecurity through whatever means necessary

►John Locke: Gov’t=contract between John Locke: Gov’t=contract between citizens and rulers; gov’t should protect life, citizens and rulers; gov’t should protect life, liberty, and property; right to rebel; consent liberty, and property; right to rebel; consent of the governedof the governed

Influential Thinkers Influential Thinkers ►Voltaire- Freedom of thought is most important: Voltaire- Freedom of thought is most important:

“I do not agree with a word you say but I will “I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”defend to the death your right to say it”

►Rousseau: people are born good but corrupted Rousseau: people are born good but corrupted by society (“noble savage”); government is a by society (“noble savage”); government is a contract between people; people should give contract between people; people should give up some freedom for the majority; people are up some freedom for the majority; people are equal and have a right of individual freedom; equal and have a right of individual freedom; women should be educated so that they are women should be educated so that they are good mothers; good mothers;

Ripe for RevolutionRipe for Revolution►Enlightenment philosophiesEnlightenment philosophies►King George III and the English Parliament King George III and the English Parliament

increase regulations on the coloniesincrease regulations on the colonies►American patriots were also Enlightenment American patriots were also Enlightenment

figures- they both expresses the ideas and figures- they both expresses the ideas and put them into practiceput them into practice

►What revolutionary and early American What revolutionary and early American ideals can you see in Enlightenment ideals can you see in Enlightenment philosophies?philosophies?

American Literature of the PeriodAmerican Literature of the Period

►Writing moves from introspective style seen Writing moves from introspective style seen in Puritan pieces to public writingin Puritan pieces to public writing

►Newspapers and magazinesNewspapers and magazines►AlmanacsAlmanacs►Political: speeches, pamphletsPolitical: speeches, pamphlets►Some Verse and Broadside BalladsSome Verse and Broadside Ballads

Cultural ChangesCultural Changes

►Deism- belief in God, source of religion is Deism- belief in God, source of religion is human reason, observation of the natural human reason, observation of the natural world (science), freedom of thought, world (science), freedom of thought, personal experiencepersonal experience

►Theatres establishedTheatres established►Colleges foundedColleges founded►Artists: Copley, Stuart, Trumball, PealeArtists: Copley, Stuart, Trumball, Peale

ArtistsArtistsCopleyPeale

Stuart

Trumball

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin►As printer in Philadelphia, printed newspaper As printer in Philadelphia, printed newspaper

and and Poor Richard’s AlmanakPoor Richard’s Almanak► Influential in development of many public Influential in development of many public

services in Phila.services in Phila.►At 42, dedicated himself to science: invented At 42, dedicated himself to science: invented

bifocals, lightening rod, new stove, studied bifocals, lightening rod, new stove, studied currents, earthquakes, laws of electricitycurrents, earthquakes, laws of electricity

► Influential political contributions: Declaration of Influential political contributions: Declaration of Independence, negotiated for French help with Independence, negotiated for French help with Revolution, negotiated peace treaty w/ English, Revolution, negotiated peace treaty w/ English, Constitution, ambassador to England and Constitution, ambassador to England and FranceFrance

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

►President in 1801President in 1801►Founded Univ. of Virginia, helped develop Founded Univ. of Virginia, helped develop

public schools, designed his own house, public schools, designed his own house, invented dumbwaiter, created decimal invented dumbwaiter, created decimal system for American $$system for American $$

►Became patriot as member of Virginia Became patriot as member of Virginia House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses

►Minister to France and 1Minister to France and 1 stst Secretary of State Secretary of State

Thomas Paine Thomas Paine ► Influenced by meeting Franklin in London, Influenced by meeting Franklin in London,

moved to colonies in 1774moved to colonies in 1774►Began career as journalist in coloniesBegan career as journalist in colonies►1776- 1776- Common SenseCommon Sense pamphlets stirred pamphlets stirred

revolutionary moodrevolutionary mood►American CrisisAmerican Crisis essays used as morale essays used as morale

boosters for revolutionary troopsboosters for revolutionary troops►Rights of ManRights of Man- influential of French revolution- influential of French revolution►Age of ReasonAge of Reason- argued against organized - argued against organized

religion (turned public opinion against him)religion (turned public opinion against him)

QuestionsQuestions►What are the key issues raised by Franklin, What are the key issues raised by Franklin,

Paine, and Jefferson in each of the readingsPaine, and Jefferson in each of the readings►What do these issues reveal about the What do these issues reveal about the

mindset of the period?mindset of the period?►What is the Revolutionary American voice?What is the Revolutionary American voice?►What impact does any of these issues have What impact does any of these issues have

on contemporary society?on contemporary society?► If the readings we’ve studied during this unit If the readings we’ve studied during this unit

are the basis for American literature, what are the basis for American literature, what do you predict comes next?do you predict comes next?