American Classicism
The Age of Enlightenment
and Reason
And
The American Revolution
Part I
Differences Between
Puritanism and Classicism
Dates
Puritanism
1620s-1750s
Classicism
1750s-1820s
1
Man is Mainly Interested in…
Puritanism
the afterlife (predestination)
Classicism
his Earthly Life
Man is Concerned With…
Puritanism
Man’s role with God and Church
Classicism
Man’s role with Society and his
Relationship with Other Man
Man Sought Guidance From…
Puritanism
The Bible, Religious Leaders,
Pious People
Classicism
Ancient Greece and Rome,
Scientists, Philosophers, Thinkers
Greco-Roman=Classicism
2
Believed that Men Were…
Puritanism
Polarized: Men were good or evil,
saved or doomed
Classicism
The same: “All men are created
Equal”
Part II
What’s Going on in the
World
In Europe…
Centuries of War
1. People are tiring of conflict and want
peace.
2. Scientific Discoveries
3. Great social upheaval (France)
4. The colonies have been (mostly) left on
their own.
3
Sir Isaac Newton
Jan 4, 1643 – Mar 31, 1727
• Invented Calculus
• 3 laws of Motion
• Theorized that
Gravity is a
Universal Law
• Causes Religious
Upheaval
Classicist View of Religion
• Deism: Clockwork God
– God set the world in motion and has been “hands off”
– Little belief in “supernatural” components of
Christianity
• God gave Reason to Man
– Man is a superior creature
– Is obligated to use the Gift of Reason
• God created Natural Laws
– Based on constants (rules)
– Man could use reason (science) to discover these
laws
Classic Thoughts
“The proper study of Mankind is Man”
-Alexander Pope
4
Classic Thought
“cogito ergo sum”
I think, therefore I am
-Rene Descartes
Classic Thought
“Man is the measure of all things.”
-Protagoras
Mankind faces a unique challenge; he
must balance his religious beliefs with
practical scientific findings.
Faith and Reason are not in complete
opposition, but the two are becoming
more difficult to rectify for many
thinkers.
5
Man in Society
• Society is what elevates man above the animals
• Social Contract
– John Locke
– Leads to citizens’ consent to be governed
• Rights of Man
– Thomas Paine
– Revolution is necessary when a government can not
provide for its people
• By using reason, man can make a Great Society
• Common needs and interests served
Part IV. Classicist Literature
•
•
•
•
•
Clear, Logical, Reasonable
Easily Understood by the Masses
About Politics and Philosophy
Writers were statesmen
Rooted in Reality
Types of Literature
1. Autobiographies
ex. The Autobiography of Ben Franklin
Evolved from the
Puritan Journals
6
Types of Literature
2. Speeches
Ex. Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia
Assembly, July 5, 1775.
Evolved from the
Puritan Sermons
Types of Literature
3. Pamphlets
ex. “Common Sense”
“The American Crisis”
Evolved from the
Puritan Poetry
Types of Literature
4. Political Documents
ex. The Declaration of Independence
7
Types of Literature
4. Political Documents
ex. The Articles of Confederation
Helped convince some states like New
York to ratify The Constitution
ex. The Federalist Papers
Helped people understand what The
Constitution was all about
8