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Introduction to The Revolutionary Period. Patriotism/Rationalism/Individualism. Colonialism to the Revolution .
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Introduction to The Revolutionary Period Patriotism/Rationalism/Individualism
Colonialism to the Revolution • Colonialism was defined by Puritanism since those who colonized the Americas were fleeing religious persecution after the attack religion had come under as a result of the Reformation. • Those who came here were coming here to practice religion. • However, while the colonists were separated by an ocean, England and Europe’s influence was still significant.
What was happening over in Europe? • What historians now call “The Enlightenment” or “The Age of Reason” defined by Rationalism. • It was a rejection of the diminishment religion had on the value of human beings by embracing our ability to be rational individuals. Also, the super religious were here so religion had a different priority. • SO MUCH WAS HAPPENING AT THIS TIME!
Innovations of the Enlightenment: • Science: The Scientific Revolution: Empiricism • Philosophy: Rationalism/”The Great Chain of Being” • Literature: The Novel • Music: Classical Composers • Economics: Adam Smith (Scottish) “The Wealth of Nations” • Politics: End of Feudalism to Individualism
So what? • It was the political, philosophical, and economic writings over in Europe –the ideas that were coming out of Europe- that lent themselves to justifying the concerns the colonists were having regarding their rights. • If the Enlightenment wasn’t happening over in Europe, the Revolution would not have been possible.
American Patriots were Influenced by these Great European Thinkers • Adam Smith (Economist) • Thomas Paine (Pamphleteer/Philosopher) • Baruch Spinoza (Philosopher) • Immanuel Kant (Philosopher) • David Hume (Philosopher) • Goddfried Leibniz (Philosopher) • Voltaire (MAJOR Philosopher: Deism)
The Literature of The American Revolution • The colonists were too busy fighting the Native Americans, tilling the land, settling, and trying not to die during the colonial period to write fun fictional works. The Patriots are too busy to write fun fictional works because they are busy fighting for their Independence from an oppressive mother country.
So what did they write? • Political and philosophical works such as: • Pamphlets • Declarations • Letters • Treatise • Articles • Speeches
How will we be studying the American Revolution? • You will be assigned a group with which to work. • Your group will be assigned a Patriot. • You will study that Patriot’s writings, figure out what effects they had, and how that Patriot was and is, in fact, the best Patriot ever. • Presentation/Debate
Patriots Thomas Jefferson Alexander Hamilton
Patriots George Washington John Adams
Patriots Ben Franklin Thomas Paine