Revolutionaries

1. Revolutionaries And Rationalists

2. PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD AGE OF REASON: (ENLIGHTENMENT) BEGAN IN EUROPE IN 1600S • RATIONALISM: BELIEF THAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN ARRIVE AT TRUTH (SPIRITUAL AND SCIENTIFIC) THROUGH REASON AND LOGIC, NOT FAITH • BELIEFS WERE OPPOSED TO THOSE OF PURITANS

3. PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD • DEISM: BELIEF THAT GOD WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF THROUGH REASON AND LOGIC • BELIEVERS CAME FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS • GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY WERE FORWARD THINKERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS

4. PHILOSOPHY OF REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD • MAJOR BELIEFS OF RATIONALISTS AND DEISTS • UNIVERSE IS ORDERLY AND GOOD • HUMANITY IS INHERENTLY GOOD • PERFECTABILITY OF HUMANS THROUGH REASON • BEST FORM OF WORSHIP: DO GOOD FOR OTHERS—ROOTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM • HUMAN HISTORY IS MARKED BY PROGRESS TOWARD A MORE PERFECT EXISTENCE • GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE, BUT HE DOESN’T CONTROL YOUR DESTINY (FREE WILL!)

5. MAJOR INFLUENCES ON AMERICAN RATIONALISTS AND DEISTS • SIR ISAAC NEWTON: BRITISH RATIONALIST AND SCIENTIST • JOHN LOCKE: BRITISH PHILOSOPHER—FIRST TO CLAIM THAT ALL MEN HAD “INALIENABLE RIGHTS” (What are the American ones?) • HEAVILY INFLUENCED JEFFERSON

6. Patrick Henry • Recognized as most persuasive orator (define) of the Rev. War Period • Effective persuasion appeals to both reason/logic and emotion • Reason/logic • Uses facts, statistics, and examples • Emotion • Uses words, images and anecdotes to arouse the reader/listener’s feelings, hopes and beliefs

7. Patrick Henry • Influenced by the oratory style of Puritan preachers of the Great Awakening • Chosen as a representative to the House of Burgess (VA) at 29 • Stamp Act Speech 1765 • “Give Me Liberty…” Speech to VA Convention 1775 • Speech was impromptu after several speeches urged the people to compromise • Outcome: persuaded delegates to arm the militias

8. Thomas Paine • Most persuasive WRITER of the Rev. War Period • Wrote “Common Sense” pamphlet • 47 page document published in January of 1776 • Denounced King George and supported American Independence • Returned to Europe after Rev. War—continued involvement in radical politics • Wrote The Rights of Man—called for British overthrow of royalty • Final work, The Age of Reason, laid out the principles of Deism

9. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN1706-1790 • ONE OF 17 CHILDREN—WHOA! • BY AGE 24—OWNED HIS OWN PRINT SHOP AND NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED THE ACADEMY OF PENNSYLVANIA (UPENN) • FOUNDED THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY • FOUNDED THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY

10. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN • SCIENTIST AND INVENTOR • RESEARCH INTO ELECTRICITY • OPEN HEATING STOVE • BIFOCAL GLASSES • HARMONICA • ROCKING CHAIR THAT SWATTED FLIES

11. BEN FRANKLIN • POLITICIAN AND STATESMAN • REPRESENTATIVE TO ENGLAND FOR PA ASSEMBLY IN 1750S AND 1760S • REPRESENTATIVE TO FRANCE FOR AMERICA DURING REVOLUTIONARY WAR • MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION • FIRST US POSTMASTER • FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE

12. Thomas Jefferson • Became 3rd president of The United States • Accomplished statesman, architect, botanist, paleontologist, linguist, and musician. • Attended College of William & mary • After college became a lawyer, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and a spokesperson for the rights of personal liberty and religious freedom.

13. TJ Continued • He established his reputation with the release of a written pamphlet entitled “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.”  This document called for the rejection of parliamentary authority.   • Two years later he was called upon as the primary writer for the Declaration of Independence.

14. Phillis Wheatley • One of very few famous women from this period • Remarkable because not not only wasp she a woman, but she was black and enslaved • Owned by kind, educated people in Boston who realized her potential and gave her an education • Began publishing poetry at just 13 years old and continued throughout the war • Her poems were read and loved by the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson