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A Nation is Born

A Nation is Born. 1750-1800 American Literature. Authors we will read. Benjamin Franklin Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson. The Age of Reason or Enlightenment. Writers valued reason over faith. God gave reason to mankind.

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A Nation is Born

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  1. A Nation is Born 1750-1800 American Literature

  2. Authors we will read • Benjamin Franklin • Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur • Thomas Paine • Thomas Jefferson

  3. The Age of Reason or Enlightenment • Writers valued reason over faith. • God gave reason to mankind. • People are generally good and not evil • Humans were born with an innate ethical sense and had the ability to regulate and improve their own lives. • Sir Isaac Newton said that God was like a clockmaker who created the perfect mechanism of this universe and left it to run on its own. • Belief in the power of science to further human progress. • Scientists – Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton

  4. French and Indian War battle for control of North America 1754-1763- France lost Britain strengthens control of territories and power of the American Colonies. Stamp Act 1765 Townshend Act of 1767: taxed normal household goods Boston Massacre 1770 Boston Tea Party Coercive Acts—in response to the Tea Party: shut down port of Boston, forbid meetings, allowed British troops to be housed with Colonists (Col. called them the “Intolerable Acts.”) Historical Period

  5. Historical Period • “The Shot Heard Round the World” April 19, 1775- battle on the Lexington Green—8 Americans dead • This marks the start of the Revolutionary War • The War ends on October 19, 1781

  6. Literature of the Period -Much of what was produced was public writing. --Speeches and pamphlets were used to defend colonial rights. -By 1776, 30 newspapers existed. -By Washington’s inauguration,40 magazines existed. -Almanacs were popular.

  7. Cries for a New Nation Focus on politics in writing: • Common Sense- important document by Thomas Paine 1776- sold over 100,000 copies within 3 months • The Declaration of Independence – 1776 Thomas Jefferson 1st draft

  8. Other Public Documents • Articles of Confederation- established the “league of friendship” between states. This document fails. • The Federal Constitution replaces the articles. • Bill of Rights added to strength document

  9. Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 • Poor Richard’s Almanac was familiar to most colonial households. -provided info about the calendar and weather and also contained aphorisms (an aphorism= a short saying with a message). • Franklin’s Autobiography covers only his early years. • It is considered one of the finest autobiographies in any language.

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