1. The Age of Reason in America The Revolutionary Period

2. Important Event and Dates 1739-1745—”Great Awakening”—revival of Puritanism-George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards 1754-1763—French and Indian War 1765—Tax to pay for F and I War 1767—Townsend Acts—tax tea, glass, lead, and paint imported to colonies 1770—Boston Massacre 1773—Boston Tea Party 1774—1 st Continental Congress meets 1775—Battle of Lexington and Concord start the Revolutionary War

3. Important Events and Dates (continued) 1775-1781—Revolutionary War 1776—Declaration of Independence signed 1781—Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown; Articles of Confederation establish our first government 1783—Treaty of Paris 1787—Signing of the Constitution 1789—Washington elected 1 st president 1791—Bill of Rights ratified (Madison) 1790—Eli Whitney invents interchangeable parts 1793—Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin 1800—Washington, DC

4. The Enlightenment Began in Europe Challenged the beliefs of the Age of Faith Embraced concepts of Rationalism

5. Rationalism Belief that people could arrive at truth using their abilities of reason and logic Rejected the previous authority of the past, religious faith, or intuition

6. Faith vs. Rationalism Truth through revelation from God Universe mysterious and unpredictable Men born into sin After-life more important than life on earth God active in universe Truth through reason and logic Universe governed by fixed, predictable laws Men basically good Life on earth more important that after-life God-a divine, indifferent beneficence

7. Rationalism in America Combined with Puritan inventiveness Combined with physical necessity Combined with Puritan need for self- improvement

8. Deism A philosophy—not a religion Belief that God gave all men at all times power to discover universe/truth Universe orderly & good Mankind-good and perfectible

9. Like a clock… Deists believed that God created the universe like a clock He wound it up and let it go, with little need for His intervention Given reason and logic, man would figure out answers

10. Important Dates of the Age of Reason in America 1739-1745-”Great Awakening” 1754-1763-French and Indian War 1765-Stamp Act 1769-Intolerable Acts 1770-Boston Massacre (Crispus Attucks 1 st killed) 1773-Boston Tea Party 1775-First shots of American Rev-Battles of Lex and Concord July 4, 1776-Dec of Independence 1775-1783-American Revolution 1781-Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown

11. More Important Dates 1781-1788-Articles of Confederation 1789-George Washington is 1 st president 1789-US Constitution ratified 1790-Eli Whitney invents interchangeable parts 1792-NY Stock Exchange organized 1793-Whitney invents cotton gin 1800-DC named capitol- Lib of Congress

12. Basic Tenets of the Age of Reason People arrive at truth using their own powers of thought and reason. God created and loves the universe, but does not interfere a lot with its workings. God created laws of nature that we can discover using observation and logic. People are good and perfectible People worship God best by doing good for others. Human history moves naturally toward perfection.

13. The “New American” Immigrant or child of immigrant Leaves behind old prejudices and manners Reinvents himself “Melting Pot” of races

14. Literature of the Enlightenment More non-fiction than fiction or poetry Expository or persuasive in a nature Most had a definitive viewpoint High use of language and logic Importance of documents indicated by language and form Emphasis on clarity, reason, logic, and evidence for assumptions

15. Types of Literature Common during the Enlightenment Formal Documents The Declaration of Independence The Constitution Pamphlets Common Sense Speeches “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” Essays The Crisis # 1

16. A Heritage of Explanation, Logic and Persuasion Found in writers since that time Thoreau Emerson Kennedy King, Jr. Roosevelt Reagan