A Nation is Born

1. A Nation is Born American Literature 1750-1800

2. The Age of Reason • Also known as the Enlightenment, the 18th Century (the 1700’s), the Age of Reason is characterized by a shift from the power of “faith” to the power of “reason.” • Partly a reaction to the strict Puritan values, the Age of Reason focused less on the afterlife, and more on the power of reason and science to further human progress.

3. The Scientists • The scientists of the Age of Reason were heavily influenced by 17th century scientists Galileo and Sir Issac Newton.

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

5. Sir Issac Newton • Sir Issac Newton is best known for “discovering” gravity. • Newton built the first practical reflecting telescope and developed a theory of colour based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into the many colours that form the visible spectrum.

6. The Philosophers Voltaire Voltaire was known for his writings in favor of the freedom of religion, civil liberties and criticizing organized religion, intolerance and the French institutions of his time.

7. Jean Jacques Rousseau • Jean Jacques Rousseau is best known for his “Social Contract”, which basically states that people give up their “natural desires” for the benefit of the society. • By doing what is best for society, man achieves freedom because he is protected from the will of the powerful.

8. Political Theorists • Political theorist John Locke was the springboard for many of the American Political Theorists. • He is best known for his belief in innate rights, such as life, liberty, health or possessions. His beliefs directly influenced, and were echoed in, the Declaration of Independence (by Thomas Jefferson)

9. The American Political Theorists • American writers Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine were influenced by the writings of John Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau. • What is most notable about the American political theorists is that they took the ideas of the French writers and put them into practice in the new American government.

10. Thomas Jefferson • Best known for writing a majority of the Declaration of Independence and for being the country’s third president. • He was also a huge proponent of the separation of church and state.

11. Benjamin Franklin • Benjamin Franklin is known for discoveries and theories about electricity. • He invented bifocals, the lightning rod and the carriage odometer. He also started the first lending library and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

12. Thomas Paine • Paine is best know for his writings “Common Sense” and “The American Crisis.” Both were heavily influential in inspiring the American Revolution. • He wrote against organized religion and was the first to propose a “minimum wage”

13. Shifting Tides • The French and Indian War begins in 1754. At the war’s end in 1759, England gains control of North American territories once held by France. • In 1756, England institutes the Stamp Act, a tax intended to regain money lost in the French and Indian war by taxing the colonies. -this tax, of course, is very unpopular among the colonials.

14. Further Unrest • In 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act, further raising taxes on the colonies. • In response, colonials (dressed as Mohawk Indians) dumped a shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. This was known as the “Boston Tea Party.” • In retaliation, Parliament passes the Coercive Acts, which forbade meetings other than annual town meetings, required colonials to house British soldiers, and shut down Boston Harbor.

15. The American Revolution • On April 19, 1775, 700 British redcoats faced 70 colonial militiamen at Lexington. After this first conflict, eight colonials lay dead. • This became known as “the Shot Heard Round the World.”

16. Independence • In 1776, at the Second Continental Congress, representatives from the 13 colonies sign the Declaration of Independence. • In 1778, France recognizes U.S. independence and signs a treaty of alliance. With France’s help, the U.S. wins the war with England and becomes an independent nation.

17. Writing of the Revolutionary Period • A majority of the writing in this period was centered around political ideas. The mind of the nation was on politics. • In contrast to the private soul-searching of the Puritans, much of the writing in the Revolutionary Period was public.

18. Standing the Test of Time • Most of the writing which remains important from that time period is political in nature. • Though the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense are crucial in this period, the most lasting piece of Revolutionary Period writing is the Constitution of the United States.

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

20. Unlimited Potential • Though much had been written in the colonies, most of it was in the form of essays, pamphlets, letters and public documents. • There were, however, no American novels or plays of importance, and the modern short story had yet to be invented.