A Nation is Born
American Literature
1750-1800
The Age of Reason
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Also known as the Enlightenment, the 18th
Century (the 1700’s), the Age of Reason is
characterized by a shift from the power of
“faith” to the power of “reason.”
Partly a reaction to the strict Puritan
values, the Age of Reason focused less on
the afterlife, and more on the power of
reason and science to further human
progress.
The Scientists
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The scientists of the Age of Reason were
heavily influenced by 17th century
scientists Galileo and Sir Issac Newton.
Galileo Galilei
Galileo is best known for
his battle with the Catholic
Church over his belief in
the sun being the center
of the galaxy, instead of
the Earth (known as
Copernicanism, for
Copernicus, who came up
with the theory of the
Earth not being at the
center of the galaxy).
Sir Issac Newton
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Sir Issac Newton is best
known for “discovering”
gravity.
Newton built the first
practical reflecting telescope
and developed a theory of
colour based on the
observation that a prism
decomposes white light into
the many colours that form
the visible spectrum.
The Philosophers
Voltaire
Voltaire was known for
his writings in favor of
the freedom of
religion, civil liberties
and criticizing
organized religion,
intolerance and the
French institutions of
his time.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
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Jean Jacques Rousseau is
best known for his “Social
Contract”, which basically
states that people give up
their “natural desires” for the
benefit of the society.
By doing what is best for
society, man achieves
freedom because he is
protected from the will of the
powerful.
Political Theorists
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Political theorist John Locke was the
springboard for many of the American
Political Theorists.
He is best known for his belief in innate
rights, such as life, liberty, health or
possessions. His beliefs directly
influenced, and were echoed in, the
Declaration of Independence (by Thomas
Jefferson)
The American Political Theorists
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American writers Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine
were influenced by the writings of John
Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau.
What is most notable about the American
political theorists is that they took the
ideas of the French writers and put them
into practice in the new American
government.
Thomas Jefferson
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Best known for
writing a majority of
the Declaration of
Independence and
for being the
country’s third
president.
He was also a huge
proponent of the
separation of church
and state.
Benjamin Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin is
known for discoveries
and theories about
electricity.
He invented bifocals, the
lightning rod and the
carriage odometer. He
also started the first
lending library and the
first fire department in
Pennsylvania.
Thomas Paine
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Paine is best know for
his writings “Common
Sense” and “The
American Crisis.” Both
were heavily influential
in inspiring the
American Revolution.
He wrote against
organized religion and
was the first to propose
a “minimum wage”
Shifting Tides
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The French and Indian War begins in 1754. At
the war’s end in 1759, England gains control of
North American territories once held by France.
In 1756, England institutes the Stamp Act, a tax
intended to regain money lost in the French and
Indian war by taxing the colonies.
-this tax, of course, is very unpopular among the
colonials.
Further Unrest
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In 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act, further
raising taxes on the colonies.
In response, colonials (dressed as Mohawk
Indians) dumped a shipment of tea into Boston
Harbor. This was known as the “Boston Tea
Party.”
In retaliation, Parliament passes the Coercive
Acts, which forbade meetings other than annual
town meetings, required colonials to house
British soldiers, and shut down Boston Harbor.
The American Revolution
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On April 19, 1775, 700 British redcoats faced 70
colonial militiamen at Lexington. After this first
conflict, eight colonials lay dead.
This became known as “the Shot Heard Round
the World.”
Independence
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In 1776, at the Second Continental
Congress, representatives from the 13
colonies sign the Declaration of
Independence.
In 1778, France recognizes U.S.
independence and signs a treaty of
alliance. With France’s help, the U.S. wins
the war with England and becomes an
independent nation.
Writing of the Revolutionary Period
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A majority of the writing in this period was
centered around political ideas. The mind
of the nation was on politics.
In contrast to the private soul-searching of
the Puritans, much of the writing in the
Revolutionary Period was public.
Standing the Test of Time
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Most of the writing which remains
important from that time period is political
in nature.
Though the Declaration of Independence,
Common Sense are crucial in this period,
the most lasting piece of Revolutionary
Period writing is the Constitution of the
United States.
The Constitution
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Surprisingly, the
writers of the
Constitution only
figured it would only
last a generation.
With only 27
amendments, it has
lasted over 250
years.
Unlimited Potential
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Though much had been written in the
colonies, most of it was in the form of
essays, pamphlets, letters and public
documents.
There were, however, no American novels
or plays of importance, and the modern
short story had yet to be invented.