NEOCLASSICISM

Emphasized reason,

harmony, and restraint

In both oral and written communicationAlso some embraced Deism

The Founding Fathers:Neoclassicists1750-1820

Age of Reasona.k.a., the Enlightenment

New scientific discoveries and philosophical thinking challenge the role of faith and establishes and either-or mentality between men of “reason” and men of “faith”

Deism Dominant philosophy among the

educated classes in Europe and America

Believed human reason capable of solving social and political problems

Supreme Being who operates only through natural laws

No belief in the supernatural Did not accept Jesus as the Son of God

The Founding Fathers

Puritans Deists

Puritans Founding Fathers

• Christian• Plain Puritan

Style• Personal,

devotional literature

• Deist• Neoclassic

Style• Political

literature

• Believed in community

• Intellectual thinkers• Shaped America

Neoclassic Philosophy

Neoclassicists believed that humans are natural creatures of God and have rights that cannot be violated or usurped.

Based on John Locke’s philosophical outlook, Neoclassicism views humans as good and rational, deserving the rights of worship, a voice in government, and property ownership

The Social Contract

Individual or natural rights have to be reconciled with societal unity.

People consent to protect each other from harm and provide tools and necessities that are not naturally occurring.

It requires that people give up personal, individual freedoms in order to establish societal rules.

Revolutionary Period Literature

4th and 5th generation Americans happily living as English subjects until…

King George II imposes regulations that threaten the liberties of colonists

The mind of the nation is on politics and it is reflected in the literature produced

4th and 5th generation Americans happily living as English subjects until…

King George II imposes regulations that threaten the liberties of colonists

The mind of the nation is on politics and it is reflected in the literature produced

Revolutionary Period Literature Unlike the personal writing of the

Puritans, the Revolutionary Period produced public political writing

Nearly 30 newspapers and almanacs were popular in all the colonies

Much that is known about private life in the period comes from letters