The Revolutionary Period (1760-1800)
I. The Age of Reason
- “by
using reason human beings could manage themselves and their societies
without depending on authorities and past traditions”
- thrived
on freedom
- of
speech
- from
arbitrary rulers
- to
experiment
- to question
existing laws and institutions
- reason
brought about progress
- writers
had little interest in supernatural or hereafter
- wrote
on science, ethics, and government
- Americans
in the Age of Reason
- Had
advantage over European contemporaries because they could test ideas of
freedom and progress by creating a new society
II. The American Revolution
- Fought
not only with weapons, but also pamphlets, songs, poems, and speeches
- Brought
about the first American united vision
III. The Growth of American
Culture
- Why
did American arts flourish at this time?
- Ready
for a richer cultural life after existing for 150 years
- Revolution
inspired people to express feelings and ideas
- American
cities grew and population doubled
- “Firsts”
during this time
- first
production of an American play, The
Prince of Parthia
- Benjamin
West’s painting The Death of
General Wolfe inspired how historical events were depicted in
European art
- First
volume of American-composed music published, The
New England Psalm-Singer
- First
American novel published, The Power
of Sympathy
- First
Native-American actor and dancer
- First
American museums established
- First
American epic poems written
- Patience
Wright – first American sculptor
- Numerous
influential painters