Transcript The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment
A Nation in Born
“Liberty without obedience is
confusion, and obedience without
liberty is slavery.” William Penn
The thinkers and
writers were devoted
to ideals of justice,
liberty, and equality
as the natural rights
of man.
“Know then thyself, presume not
God to scan, The proper study of
mankind is man.” Alexander Pope
Emphasis on
rationality rather than
tradition.
Scientific inquiry vs
unquestioning religion
Representative
government instead
of monarchy
Change in Beliefs
Science had discovered “laws that
they did not see as heretical
Newton
World was an orderly system that
humans could comprehend
Did not look to the Bible for God,
looked to the universe itself
– The universe is generous, harmonious
– Deists
– With the application of intelligence, the
human condition could be improved
Change in Politics
Revolt against British
Control
– The Stamp Act 1764
– Boston Massacre
1770
– Boston Tea Party
1773
Born with morality
Universal belief that
we all possess the
innate ability to
decipher right and
wrong
Man’s right to
Happiness on Earth
Three prevalent American Themes
Man’s reality of
America vs the
promise of America.
Self-improvement
Society vs self
Elements of Continuity
Fondness for Puritan plain style
Pursuit of moral perfection minus the idea of
grace
Lingering providential view of America
Preoccupation of recording life in the New World