1. A Nation is Born: The Age of Reason (1750-1800)
American Literature
Ms. Oliveira

2. Comparison Enlightenment Puritans Reason and science over faith
People by nature are good
Sought to draw on the new scientific knowledge of the Renaissance to improve the human condition by improving man's institutions, government
Writing was public writing-newspapers, magazines, almanacs- Political writing most important
Puritans
Main concern was the hereafter
Man sinning was inevitable
Government was a theocracy
Theological Studies, hymns, histories, diaries and histories- purpose was to provide spiritual insight and instruction or self-examination

3. Age of Reason or The Enlightenment
Writers and thinkers valued reason over faith
Provided the philosophical basis of the American Revolution = a blueprint for the organization of a democratic society.
Started in Europe with Voltaire, Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Rousseau, John Locke
In America, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution

4. Cultural Identity
During this period, America began to establish a cultural identity of its own
Theaters built
Colleges established: University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and Blount College (UT)
Painters and music writers emerged

5. Benjamin Franklin: The Rationalist
One of 17 children
1722 become vegetarian to save money for books
Left school early to work, and by the age of 24, he was a prosperous merchant, owner of a print shop, and published a newspaper (Silence Dogood-satirize daily life in politics)
Moved to Philly at 17- promoted paved streets, sewer line, street lights
Inventor (42 retired from printing)- lightening rod, bifocals, Franklin stove, odometer
Started Autobiography in 1771 (65 yrs.) added 3 more sections- never completed

7. Franklin Funnies

8. Phillis Wheatley
1753?-Born in west Africa; brought to America when 8 yrs. old
Given her name by owners and converted to Christianity
Native language was not English
Owners recognized her intelligence and taught her Latin and Greek classics, English poetry and Bible
13- first poem published
Freed in last yrs of life filled with sorrow: 3 children died, husband jailed for debt, lost recognition as poet
Died alone and impoverished in 1784
First writer of African descent to gain a voice in America

9. Patrick Henry “Give me liberty or give me death!”
1765-elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses
Opposed the Stamp Act on all printed paper
1775- Delivered most famous speech t the Virginia Provincial Convention-urged armed resistance to Britain (unlike many others)
Speech had a powerful impact on the audience- revolutionary spirit that led to the Declaration of Independence

10. Revolutionary Romps