1. After hearing Henry’s Speech, would you have voted to prepare for war?
When the bell rings, start a new page headed with today’s date.
After hearing Henry’s Speech, would you have voted to prepare for war?
Aristotle:
Plato:
Socrates:

2. Today’s Menu
American Revolution Notes
Rhetoric Notes

3. American Revolution
Not a time of fun literature: 20 years w/o “frivolious” literature (changes worldwide)
A time of political change that requires weighty literature
Not “American” writing yet—still colonial in style, voice, subject
Still a “ruled people”—seeking rebelion, but not yet the explosion of revolt

4. Age of Reason/ Enlightenment
Began in the 1600s
Science and rational explanations for life and human behavior filter down to all classes
A “new language” in common
Scientific discoveries explain things previously attributed to God’s miracles
Sir Isaac Newton
Deists (scientists & philosophers) believed in God because of scienctific miracles, not because of the Bible
Definition of God changing and being questioned-even scientifically—away from mythology

5. The New World Vast unsettled continent Continued immigration
Unlimited potential and opportunity
Continued immigration
Hourly arrivals
The opportunity to own land is a new freedom never before experienced
Begin to use the phrase “American colonies” (not “British colonies”)
The start of an identity

6. A New Identity New freedom leads to desire for
More freedom
More respect
Desire to be seen as educated and classy
More autonomy (authority to make decisions)
Recognize differences between the colonies and Mother England
Like adolescents, colonists were trying to form an individual identity. Want freedom, want others to pay. want to make own choices, but still want help or direction. Want to be an individual, but desire to fit in

7. Arguments (the Spark) Who will rule? Response Who will tax?
Who will decide how tax money is spent?
Response
Boston Tea Party
Declaration of Independence
Etc.
Civil War

8. A New Literature Emotional Language, Emotional Tone
Uses the langauge of Rebellion and Revolt
NOT an Emotional Theme
Meant to Appear Unemotional
Looks like an essay, but…
Political
Urging political and social changes
Reflects a belief of moral superiority
Begins to Identify American beliefs
A cultural voice
Nonfiction Essays
Beginning of American satire
Pokes fun at everyone else, eg the french
Adolescnce shown by mocking others

9. Rhetoric: the art of communicating ideas
Logical appeals: rational arguments and reasons
Emotional appeals: often include loaded language to focus on the audience’s feelings rather than logic
Ethical appeals: call forth the audience’s sense of moral values
Rhetorical questions: asked to show the argument makes the answer obvious; not meant to be answered
Parallelism: repetition that uses the sames sentence/phrase structure

10. More rhetorical devices
Allusion: indirect reference to a person, place or event in history or art that the author believes the audience will recognize
Restatement of a key idea in different words
Exclamation: highly emotional or provacative statements
Understatement: says less than is meant
Hyperbole: vast exageration