Mid 18th century

1
THE AGE OF REASON

• Mid 18th century

2
I. CHARACTERISTICS

• A. Sometimes called American Enlightenment
• B. Historically includes the late colonial and
  revolutionary periods.

3
II. A Reaction to Puritanism

• Puritans
• Advocated a Theocracy
• Minister is political leader
• Society focused on religious good

• Age of Reason
• Advocated for Democracy
• Landowner is political leader
• Society focused on common good
• Libraries
• Post Offices
• Fire Departments
• Sanitation
• Hospitals

4
II. A Reaction to Puritanism

• Age of Reason (cont.)
• Religion based on rationalism and reason
• John Locke
• Morality can be determined like math
• Separation of church and state
• Gods existence can be proven by logic
  (clockmaker analogy)
• Believed man could improve

• Puritans (cont.)
• Religion based on faith and revelation
• John Calvin
• Morality determined by scripture
• Church and state belong together theocracy
• Gods existence cannot be questioned
• Believed man was inherently corrupt

5
II. A Reaction to Puritanism

• Puritans (cont.)
• Knowledge is a gift given to help us understand
  God better
• Literary Works
• Sermon
• Historical Narratives

• Age of Reason (cont.)
• Knowledge is a gift to help understand the
  natural world better
• Literary Works
• Pamphlets
• Speeches

6
III. Similarities to Puritanism

• A. Emphasis on Hard Work
• B. Desire for Independence
• C. Literature is primarily non-fiction

7
IV Main Ideas

• A. The Founding Fathers dared to pursue a dream
  unlike anything the world had ever seen before.
• B. Their use of reason and logic led to a period
  of religious skepticism.
• C. The Puritan era ended when man began
  questioning it without fear of God.
• D. Foundation of our nation viewed as like a
  science experiment using politics.

8
4 Questions on Age of Reason

• 1). Find a quotation in The Declaration of
  Independence that best defines the American
  Dream. Write it down. Then, explain that
  quotation.
• 2). Find a quote from Thomas Paines Age of
  Reason that best explains his religious beliefs.
  Write it down. Then explain it.
• 3). Why is Benjamin Franklin the epitome of his
  era? Be specific.
• 4). Find a quotation from either Patrick Henry or
  Thomas Paine that would be particularly offensive
  to black Americans. Write it down. Then explain
  it.

9
Puritan or Age of Reason?

• Screw the truth into men's minds
• Richard Baxter Puritan
• Question with boldness even the existence of a
  god because if there be one he must approve of
  the homage of reason more than that of
  blindfolded fear.
• Thomas Jefferson Age of Reason
• Many a man's knowledge is a torch to light him to
  hell. Thou who hast knowledge of God's will, but
  doth not do it, wherein dost thou excel the
  devil, 'who transforms himself into an angel of
  light.
• Thomas Watson Puritan
• Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and
  most fools do.
• Ben Franklin Age of Reason
• If we would talk less and pray more about them,
  things would be be better than they are in the
  world at least, we should be better enabled to
  bear them.
• John Owen Puritan

10
Further PracticeHow would Paine and a Puritan
respond to these questions?
11
What Is the American Dream?
12
What is the purpose of literature?
13
All of my crops have died! Why?
14
Is there a God? How do you know?
15
Oh my gosh! The earth is shaking! Why?
16
The Big Questions

• How is our society still influenced by the Age of
  Reason today? What signs of it remain?
• How are the values of the Age of Reason seen in
  their writing?
• What about this era is appealing to us in the
  21st century as opposed to Puritanism?