1750-1800

A Nation is Born

The Age of Reason

Eighteenth century- Referred to as the Enlightenment or “Age of Reason.”

Important People of Enlightenment: Galileo, Newton Voltaire, Rousseau Locke Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson

Reason (or logic…intelligence)- Became more important than faith.

Science and making life on Earth better was more of a priority than getting into Heaven. Exact opposite of traditional Puritanism.

Toward a Clash of Arms

Preceded by French and Indian War: Fight between England and France over North America. France lost.

Stamp Act- 1765: British wanted more money to pay war debt. Required everyday items to have stamps. Colonists revolted violently and Stamp Act was eliminated.

Townshend Act (1767)- Taxes on paper, paint, glass, lead, and tea. British troops sent to control colonists.

Boston Massacre- Recoats (British) fired into a crowd, killed five.

All but tax on tea eliminated…led to Boston Tea Party.

Toward a Clash of Arms

Boston Tea Party- Bostonians dressed like Mohawks. Dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Punished with Coercive Acts. Port of Boston was shut down. Meetings were not allowed. British troops could move in with colonists against their wishes. Colonists called them “Intolerable Acts.”

Leaders of the colonies met in September 1774 (First Continental Congress)

British sent General Thomas Gage to be governor as a result.

“The Shot Heard Round the World”

April 19, 1775- British troops met 70 colonial minutemen. Someone fired a shot (unknown which side) Fighting broke out- 8 Americans died.

British continued to Concord- More fighting.Marked the beginning of American Revolution.Battle of Bunker Hill:

All colonies involved. More than a thousand British soldiers killed or injured. George Washington appointed commander in chief of

American army.

“The Shot Heard Round the World”

More than one year until American declared independence.

War lasted six years.Battle of Saratoga:

Fall 1777 5700 British surrendered. France recognized independence and sent troops to help.

War ended at Yorktown: October 19, 1781 French army and navy helped African American soldiers enlisted George Washington’s army defeated General Cornwallis’s

army- Cornwallis surrendered.

The New Nation

Articles of Confederation- Established “league of friendship” with new states. Did not work.

Constitution replaced Articles. Took a long time to be ratified. Bill of Rights had to be added.

George Washington- Became first PresidentJohn Adams- Second PresidentThomas Jefferson- Third President

A Time of Crisis

Puritans before Revolution- Writing was private (letters, journals, etc)

After Revolution- Writing became public. Newspapers established. Magazines began to be published. Almanacs became popular.

Most writing was political as people shared ideas.

Politics as Literature

Writing was very important. Influenced nation policies.

James Otis- Wrote speeches and pamphlets.Patrick Henry- Very successful speaker.

Spoke out against the Stamp Act.Thomas Paine- Most influential in pro-

independence speaking. Wrote Common Sense in 1776- sold 100,000 copies in

three months.

Politics as Literature

Declaration of Independence- Written by Thomas Jefferson- June 1776. Benjamin Franklin and four others helped. Most influential political writing…ever.

United States Constitution- Written in 1787. Amended 27 times. Ratified by Delaware within three months (first to do

so). Had to be ratified by nine states- took a while.

The Cultural Scene

Literature was mainly political.Broadside ballads-

Single sheet of paper- written on both sides about current topic.

Most popular- “The Dying Redcoat” Philip Freneau- journalist and editor

Wrote several famous poems such as “The Indian Burying Ground.”

Joel Barlow & Phyllis Wheatley- Barlow- “The Hasty Pudding.” Wheatley- Collection of poems published as a young

woman.

The Cultural Scene

Most famous writer of the period: Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Alamanck Provided weather and calendar information Also included wise sayings.

His Autobiography is one of the most famous autobiographies in the world.

Slave Narrative

Olaudah Equiano Brought to American against his will from Africa. Sold as a slave. Bought his own freedom and moved to England. Became an abolitionist.

Wrote The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Describes his journey to America and life as a slave.

African Americans and Women in the Revolution

1776- More than half a million African Americans lived in colonies.

Were not allowed to join the army British offered to free slaves who fought for British George Washington changed the policy…allowed those

were were free to join.5000 African Americans fought- considered

bravest of the soldiers.

African Americans and Women in the Revolution

Women helped too.While men were fighting, they took care of work

at home. Did planting, harvesting, cooking, made shoes, blankets,

and uniforms. Some even worked front lines- Cooked, washed, and took

care of injured.Mary Ludwig Hays- Carried water to husband and

others in battle. Called Moll of the Pitcher. Husband was wounded- She took his place firing a cannon.

Deborah Sampson- Dressed as a man and fought.

Culture and Art

Theaters built First play- The Prince of Parthia (1767) by Thomas

Godfrey First American characters in The Contrast by Royall

Tyler Themes of dramas: Honest Americans vs. Foreign

SneaksNew Colleged Established:

For example: University of Tennessee, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Famous painters, musicians, and song-writers also emerged.

Gilbert Stuart, Portraitist

Painters did not paint battle scenes, but portraits.

Gilbert Stuart- Most famous portraitistStudied with painter Benjamin WestPainted most of George Washington’s

portraits.Never included props or scenery—only

showed Washington from the waist up.

American Literature at Daybreak

America began to have its own literature.Native American literature was preserved more.Political documents.Poetry and essays.Did not have novels or important plays.

Short stories had not been invented yet.Many famous works produced during this period:

Olaudah Equiano Benjamin Franklin Thomas Paine Constitution