Revolutionaries And Rationalists

PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD AGE OF REASON: (ENLIGHTENMENT) BEGAN IN EUROPE IN 1600S RATIONALISM: BELIEF THAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN ARRIVE AT TRUTH (SPIRITUAL AND SCIENTIFIC) THROUGH REASON AND LOGIC, NOT FAITH BELIEFS WERE OPPOSED TO THOSE OF PURITANS

PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD DEISM: BELIEF THAT GOD WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF THROUGH REASON AND LOGIC BELIEVERS CAME FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY WERE FORWARD THINKERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS

PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD MAJOR BELIEFS OF RATIONALISTS AND DEISTS UNIVERSE IS ORDERLY AND GOOD HUMANITY IS INHERENTLY GOOD PERFECTABILITY OF HUMANS THROUGH REASON BEST FORM OF WORSHIP: DO GOOD FOR OTHERS—ROOTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM HUMAN HISTORY IS MARKED BY PROGRESS TOWARD A MORE PERFECT EXISTENCE GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE, BUT HE DOESN’T CONTROL YOUR DESTINY (FREE WILL!)

MAJOR INFLUENCES ON AMERICAN RATIONALISTS AND DEISTS SIR ISAAC NEWTON: BRITISH RATIONALIST AND SCIENTIST JOHN LOCKE: BRITISH PHILOSOPHER—FIRST TO CLAIM THAT ALL MEN HAD “INALIENABLE RIGHTS” (What are the American ones?) HEAVILY INFLUENCED JEFFERSON

Patrick Henry Recognized as most persuasive orator (define) of the Rev. War Period Effective persuasion appeals to both reason/logic and emotion Reason/logic Uses facts, statistics, and examples Emotion Uses words, images and anecdotes to arouse the reader/listener’s feelings, hopes and beliefs

Patrick Henry Influenced by the oratory style of Puritan preachers of the Great Awakening Chosen as a representative to the House of Burgess (VA) at 29 Stamp Act Speech 1765 “Give Me Liberty…” Speech to VA Convention 1775 Speech was impromptu after several speeches urged the people to compromise Outcome: persuaded delegates to arm the militias

Thomas Paine Most persuasive WRITER of the Rev. War Period Wrote “Common Sense” pamphlet 47 page document published in January of 1776 Denounced King George and supported American Independence Returned to Europe after Rev. War—continued involvement in radical politics Wrote The Rights of Man—called for British overthrow of royalty Final work, The Age of Reason, laid out the principles of Deism

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1706-1790 ONE OF 17 CHILDREN—WHOA! BY AGE 24—OWNED HIS OWN PRINT SHOP AND NEWSPAPER FOUNDED THE ACADEMY OF PENNSYLVANIA (UPENN) FOUNDED THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SCIENTIST AND INVENTOR RESEARCH INTO ELECTRICITY OPEN HEATING STOVE BIFOCAL GLASSES HARMONICA ROCKING CHAIR THAT SWATTED FLIES

BEN FRANKLIN POLITICIAN AND STATESMAN REPRESENTATIVE TO ENGLAND FOR PA ASSEMBLY IN 1750S AND 1760S REPRESENTATIVE TO FRANCE FOR AMERICA DURING REVOLUTIONARY WAR MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FIRST US POSTMASTER FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE

Thomas Jefferson Became 3rd president of The United States Accomplished statesman, architect, botanist, paleontologist, linguist, and musician. Attended College of William & mary After college became a lawyer, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and a spokesperson for the rights of personal liberty and religious freedom.

TJ Continued He established his reputation with the release of a written pamphlet entitled “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.”  This document called for the rejection of parliamentary authority.   Two years later he was called upon as the primary writer for the Declaration of Independence.

Phillis Wheatley One of very few famous women from this period Remarkable because not not only wasp she a woman, but she was black and enslaved Owned by kind, educated people in Boston who realized her potential and gave her an education Began publishing poetry at just 13 years old and continued throughout the war Her poems were read and loved by the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson