Download RATIONALISM NOTES

RATIONALISM NOTES (1750-1800)
LANGUAGE ARTS 11E – MRS. RAGLOW
Moving Forward:
The shift from the old Puritan beliefs to modern America
I. Puritan Beliefs in Modern Life
a. Work Ethic
b. Faith
i. Although most Americans do not believe that God controls everything in the
universe, the foundation of our country’s religious beliefs were laid by the Puritans
II. Reasons for the New America: You will find that movements in America tend to grow out of
the flaws of the previous movements
a. Tired of Repression
i. The idea that God controls everything became too repressive to more progressive
thinkers
ii. Rise of Rationalism:
1. Rationalism – Belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason,
rather than relying on past authority, on religious institutions, or on intuition
2. Main Players
a. Benjamin Franklin – aphorisms and satire
b. Sir Isaac Newton – compared God to a master clock maker. Having
created the perfect mechanism of the universe, God left his creation to
run on its own, like a clock
3. Genre and Style
a. Political pamphlets
b. Travel writing
c. Persuasive writing
4. Age of Reason
a. Began in Europe
b. Spanned the globe during the 17th and 18th centuries
c. Rationalism was the main way of thinking during this time
BEFORE
Religious fanaticism
Church = Truth
Witch Trials
Theocracies
Church and State united
III. Events of the Time
a. 13 Colonies
AFTER
Deism—”natural law”
Science/Logic/Reason = Truth
Rise of philosophers
Democracy
Separation of Church & State
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
i. 1st Continental Congress – result of the Boston Massacre – outrage over taxes and
loss of jobs
ii. Daily paper led to war – sensationalized events going on (strong language)
iii. Boston Tea Party – rebels upset that England had taxes on tea (Repealed all BUT
tea) – dumped $1 million into harbor
iv. Midnight Ride – Paul Revere – “The British are coming!” (He was the one to get
credit for this because he was well-known in the community.)
HOW did we win this?
i. Heart?
ii. Broke the rules of war?
iii. British were tired?
The Revolution
i. 45 ships of British to NYC (350 more on the way)
ii. 5 ships carry more ammunition than the city
iii. British fighting for the king VS. Americans fighting for life
iv. Biggest attack on NYC until September 11, 2001
v. 12,000 POWs die in British ships
Independence
i. Declaration on July 4, 1776 – Independence from Britain is DEATH
ii. “Rights from God, NOT a government!”
Rebels
i. “Frontier” Men – rebel sharpshooters in hiding (not playing by rules)
ii. The walk South takes 6 weeks
iii. Rebels kill the Indian scouts (about 400)
iv. Target British officers next (leave them leaderless)
v. Rebels settle in Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) in Winter – leave as skilled killers
1. 14,000 men – 1/5 do not have shoes
2. Washington leads – takes convicts, slaves, etc. and UNITES
3. Smallpox – inoculations take place here (take pus and put into cut – spread
slower)
vi. Baron von Steuben – responsible for changing warfare – sanitation and army
training
vii. The Culper Ring - send messages to General George Washington about the activities of
the British in New York. The Ring conducted covert operations until after the end of the
American Revolutionary War. Its heyday was between 1778 and 1781. It was the precursor of intelligence services such as CIA. (Still use invisible ink) Public did not find out
until the 1930s.
Daniel Boone – March 1775
i. March through Frontier to become rich
ii. Changes American history and literature!