Download The Revolutionary Period 1760-1800

The Age of Reason & The
Revolutionary Period
The Age of Reason
(1700-1789)
Beliefs of these writers:
1. Humans could manage
themselves and their societies
using reason and without
depending on authorities and
traditions.
The Age of Reason
(1700-1789)
2. Reason thrived on freedom—of
speech, from rulers, to
experiment and question.
3. The free use of reason could
correct social evils, end
superstition and ignorance,
and improve the quality of
existence.
The Age of Reason
(1700-1789)
• Unlike the Puritans, the writers
had little interest in the
hereafter or supernatural.
• They tended to write on
science, ethics, or government
rather than religion.
The Revolutionary Period
1760-1800
• The American Revolution was
fought not only with muskets
but also with thousands of
pamphlets, essays, songs,
poems, and speeches.
• Propaganda, persuasion, and
political writing came to
dominate the writing scene.
STUDENTS:
Begin taking
notes here!
Persuasive Techniques
• LOGICAL APPEALS- rely on logic and
facts to support a claim.
• EMOTIONAL APPEALS- present ideas
and images that elicit strong
feelings.
• ETHICAL APPEALS- use values or
moral standards that are widely
accepted as a way to persuade an
audience.
Rhetorical Devices
• RHETORICAL QUESTIONa question to which no answer is
expected (But when shall we be
stronger?)
• ANTITHESIS- expresses contrasting
ideas in parallel grammatical
structures (Give me liberty, or give
me death!)
Rhetorical Devices
• REPETITION- the use of the same
word or phrase more than once for
emphasis.
• PARALLELISM- a kind of repetition in
which words or phrases in the same
grammatical form connect ideas. (Is
life so dear, or peace so sweet…)
“Speech in the Virginia
Convention”
1. What is Patrick Henry’s opinion
of the delegates who
addressed the convention
before him?
2. Henry refers to a lamp that
guides him. What is this
“lamp”?
3. What does Henry indicate are
the signs that the British are
planning to attack?
4. Henry rejects the possibility of
Americans gaining their rights
simply by asking the King to
grant them. Why?
5. Give one example for each type
of rhetorical device from this
speech.
The Declaration of
Independence
• Jefferson wanted to emphasize
the logical argument to be made
for independence.
• Three important parts of an
argument are (1) the claim, (2)
support, (3) counterarguments
The Declaration of
Independence
Four main parts:
1. Preamble- announces the
reason for the document
2. Declaration of people’s natural
rights and relationship to
government
3. List of complaints against
George III, the British king
4. Conclusion that formally states
America’s independence
The Declaration of
Independence
1. What claim does Jefferson present
in the preamble?
2. What does Jefferson say is the
purpose of government? (lines 910)
3. According to Jefferson, when do
people have the right to alter or
abolish a government? (line 11-12)
4. According to Jefferson, what, in
general, do the colonists object to
about the way laws are made and
enforced in the colonies?
The Declaration of
Independence
5. Why might the list of complaints
make up the largest part of the
Declaration?
6. According to Jefferson, what have
the colonists done repeatedly each
time they felt that they had been
wronged? (Iines 91-92)
7. What does the last part of the
document say about the colonies’
relationship with Great Britain?
(lines 110-111)
8. Name three complaints that the
colonists had against the king that
you might have found to be most
offensive:
1.
2.
3.
9. What rights are specified in the
Declaration? (Line 9)
10. On the basis of Jefferson’s
evidence, were the colonies
justified in their rebellion?
Would you have supported the
colonies quest for
independence? Write a
paragraph to support your
opinion.