Rationalism“Age of Reason”

The pendulum swings far from Puritans—

the obvious dichotomy of time periods

Vocabulary

Deism American Dream Connotation Denotation

Historical Background 1600’s: Scientific Revolution

Time to reason and experimentSir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

Discovers laws of gravity--physics People want real answers for events

Ex. Smallpox breakout: Boston 1721 Cotton Mather (1663-1728)

Puritan doctor Inoculates 300 people – saves town!!

Creates a life of leisure (faster, easier, better)

Historical Background

1700-1800’s: The Enlightenment Questioning place in life

Technology has created free time to thinkPonder: equality, happiness, power,

property, government, inalienable rights, freedom, etc.

American Revolution (1775-1783)Result of Enlightenment in the coloniesDeclaration of Independence (1776)

Themes and Beliefs Deism:

God created the universe but does not interfere in its workingsClockmaker Analogy– makes the watch,

winds it, then leaves it alone World operates according to God’s rules

–use reason to discover those rules“God made it” stories (origin/creation

myths) no longer good enough God wants people to be happy --worship

God best by helping other people

Themes and Beliefs

Conquering vs. surviving nature Birth of cities Self-made Americans emerge

Tradesmen (silversmith, newspapers)Making money

Education Shift from moral teachings to

practical/scientific

Form and Style Rooted in reality Appeals to logic Forms of writing

Practical and sometimes political Pamphlets Newspaper articles Speeches

The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin First American tale of the self-made man Beginning of the American Dream

Connections??

Do we see similar Rationalist beliefs and themes today? How? Why? Why/not?

Is there any writing, film, music, etc. today that has a similar form or style to the Rationalists?

Does this connect with any of your other classes? Studies?