Literature of the Revolution

1. Literature of the Revolution The Age of Reason

2. 18th Century – Age of Reason, Enlightenment • 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

3. Illuminating the 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

4. Age of Reason - Morality • 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

5. Enlightenment 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

6. Enlightenment and Government • 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”

7. An Emerging American Literature • 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

8. Writers of the Revolution • 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

9. Pamphlets and Propaganda • 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

10. Writing that Launched a Nation • 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

11. Voices of the People • 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”

13. Enlightenment Contradictions • 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

14. Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790) • 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

15. Benjamin Franklin • 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

16. 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

17. Thomas Paine(1737-1809) • 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

18. Thomas Paine • 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

19. Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826) • 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.)

20. Thomas Jefferson • 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