Enlightenment 1750 1800 THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD THE AGE
- Slides: 8
Enlightenment 1750 -1800 THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD (THE AGE OF REASON)
END OF THE 17 TH CENTURY � Presented a challenge to the unshakable faith of the Puritans � Began in Europe with philosophers and scientists
“RATIONALISM” � Rationalism: the belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition. � Reason over faith
DEISTS � Deism: belief in the existence of God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (distinguished from theists). � God created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.
VIEW OF MAN � Universe was orderly and good � Believed in the perfectibility of individuals through reason � Best form of worship=do what is best for others
SMALLPOX PLAGUE � Ship from the West Indies 1721 � Cotton Mather-not your typical Puritan minister � Inoculation � Only (Turkish physician) six of 300 died; 6, 000 contracted the disease
SELF-MADE AMERICANS � Age of pamphlets, autobiographies, and documents Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson � � Revolutionary War and The Declaration of Independence � Oration: formal speech, which is often persuasive (rhetorical devices)
EDUCATION AND WORK � Practical � All and vocational education men can achieve success through work � Importance � How of liberty does this time period illustrate the American dream?