1. Revolutionaries
And
Rationalists

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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!)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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