The Age of

Reason

1720s - 1800

Basic Principles
Prime Motivator :

use reason to make a perfect

nation

INDUSTRY. Lose no time.

Be always employd in
something useful. Cut of
all unnecessary actions.

Mans Role:
superior to all

must reason to live a full life

Principles, continued
Source of Evil :

Ignorance, passions

MODERATION. Avoid
extremes. Forbear
resenting injuries so
much as you think they
deserve.

View of Nature :

resourceful, proof of Gods existence

Principles, cont.
Optimism:

Man is free to make decisions.

RESOLUTION.
Resolve to perform what
you ought. Perform without
fail what you resolve.

Goals:
humanity
reason
justice
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Principles, cont.
Destiny:
or

Mans work on earth is either punished

rewarded in afterlife.

TYPES OF LITERATURE

diaries, letters, pamphlets, non-fiction

What Is An American?
Patrick Henrys Speech in the Virginia
Convention
Poor Richards Almanak,
Ben Franklins Autobiography
Declaration of Independence

Vocabulary

Suppression
Oppression
Revolt
Coup d'tat/coup
Tyranny
Despotism
Dissident
Genocide
Suffrage