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American Enlightenment

American Enlightenment. 1750-1800. The Declaration of Independence John Trumbull, 1818. Benjamin Franklin. One today is worth two tomorrows. He that composes himself is wiser than he who composes books. Fish and visitors smell in three days.

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American Enlightenment

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  1. American Enlightenment 1750-1800 The Declaration of Independence John Trumbull, 1818

  2. Benjamin Franklin One today is worth two tomorrows. He that composes himself is wiser than he who composes books. Fish and visitors smell in three days. Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and never well mended. A small leak will sink a great ship. source Aphorisms from Poor Richard’s Almanac

  3. Big Ideas of the American Enlightenment Rationalism Science Deism God as Clockmaker Self-Improvement Community Service Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

  4. Truth comes from reason • not from authority of the past • not from religion • not from emotion or intuition • God created the universe • but does not interfere • God’s rules of the universe can be discovered, • but only through reason image source Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) God as Clockmakerwho created the perfect mechanism of the universe and left it to run. Logic and reason are God’s gift to help us understand the universe. Rationalism source

  5. Universe is orderly and good • Humanity is good • Individual is perfectiblethrough reason • God’s objective is happinessof creation (all creatures) • Sought principles that united all religions • God is available to all people all of the time • Best form of worship is to help others source Deism Elements of Literature 13-18

  6. Man can be perfected through reason • An optimistic view on humans and their potential • Focus on the individual • Man seeks improvement to create own happiness Self-Improvement

  7. Enlightenment Art The Treaty of Penn with the Indians (1771-72) Benjamin West

  8. Toward Perfection • Self-evident truths • Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness • All men are created equal Self-Improvement: for a nation and for individuals

  9. Temperance • Silence • Order • Resolution • Frugality • Industry • Sincerity • Justice • Moderation • Cleanliness • Tranquility • Chastity • Humility Achieving Moral Perfectionfrom The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin See packet, page 29

  10. Choose one of Franklin’s virtues that seems to be most appropriate for Parkway North (think about what the school and the student body need). • In your group, prepare a skit which explains the need for your virtue and how PNH can work to achieve it. • Please, keep your skits school appropriate! Parkway North Improvement Plan

  11. Read the Declaration of Independence on pages 39-40 in your blue books. • Annotate the text (write in your books or use post-its) as you read, finding examples of Enlightenment thought in the text. • Be prepared to answer this question next class: How does this work fit with the beliefs of the Enlightenment? Homework

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