Part II The Literature of Reason and Revolution

PartIITheLiteratureofReasonandRevolutionHistoricalIntroductionImportantwritersDeclarationofIndependenceHistoricalIntroductionTwohistoricalevents1.TheAmericanWarforIndependence1775-17832.EnlightenmentTheologydominatedthePuritanphaseofAmericanwriting.Politicswasnowthegreatsubjecttocommandtheattentionofthebestminds.I.TheAmericanWarforIndependence1775-17831.ThewritersheldvitallyimportantplacesinthemovementforAmericanindependence.FreedomwaswonasmuchbytheirfieryandinspiringspeechesandwritingsasbytheweaponsofWashingtonandLafayette(IntheAmericanRevolution,Lafayetteservedasamajor-general[少将]intheContinentalArmyunderGeorgeWashington).The13originalAmericanstateswerepersuadedtobecomeasinglenationbytheargumentsofstatesmenandmenofletters.GeorgeWashington&LafayetteI.TheAmericanWarforIndependence1775-17832.StrictrulesmadebyEnglishgovernmenthamperedtheeconomicdevelopmentofthecolonies.TheBritishwantedthecoloniestoremainpoliticallyandeconomicallydependentonthemothercountry,whichledtothecolonies’intensestrainwithEngland.SotheAmericanWarforIndependencebrokeoutin1775.I.TheAmericanWarforIndependence1775-1783TheWar(1)1775,Lexington,beginningoftheIndependenceWar(2)July4,1776,ThomasJefferson,DeclarationofIndependence(3)1778,alliancewithFrance,turningpointforAmericanarmy(4)1778,Englisharmysurrendered(5)1783,formalrecognitionbytheBritishgovernmentI.TheAmericanWarforIndependence1775-17833.Theproceduresoftheestablishmentofthenewnation(1)colonies(2)states(3)federalrepublic---theUnitedStatesofAmericaII.Enlightenment1.EnlightenmentThespirituallifeinthecoloniesduringtheperiodwastoagreatdegreemoldedbythebourgeoisEnlightenment.(1)OriginatedinEuropeinthe17thcentury(2)Sources:Newton’stheory;deism（自然神教派);Frenchphilosophy(Rousseau,Voltaire)II.Enlightenment(3)Basicprinciples:stressingeducation;stressingReason(Order)(TheagehasbeencalledtheAgeofReason);employingReasontoreconsiderthetraditionsandsocialrealities;concernsforcivilrights,suchasequalityandsocialjustice;theideaofprogress.II.Enlightenment2.AttheinitialperiodthespreadoftheideasoftheEnlightenmentwaslargelyduetojournalism.AlltheleadersoftherevolutionwereinfluencedbytheEnlightenment;3.Representatives:BenjaminFranklin,ThomasPaine,ThomasJefferson,etc.II.EnlightenmentTherepresentativesoftheEnlightenmentsetthemselvesthetaskofdisseminatingknowledgeamongthepeopleandadvocatingrevolutionaryideas.TheyalsoactivelyparticipatedintheWarforIndependence.II.Enlightenment4.ThenewnationwassetonthebasicideasandprinciplesoftheEnlightenment.5.InfluenceoftheEnlightenment(1)AmericanEnlightenmentdealtadecisiveblowuponthePuritantraditionsandbroughttolifeseculareducationandliterature.(2)ThesecularidealsoftheAmericanEnlightenmentwereexemplifiedinthelifeandcareerofBenjaminFranklin.III.Literature1.CallforAmerica’sindependenceinliteratureAssoonasAmericabecamepoliticallyandeconomicallyindependent,thecallforitsindependenceinliteraturestartedtoemerge.In1783,NoahWebsterdeclared,“Americamustbeasindependentassheisinpolitics,asfamousfortheartsasforarms”.YetthroughoutthecenturyAmericanliteraturewaslargelypatternedonthewritingof18thcenturyEnglishmen.NoahWebster&HisDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguageIII.Literature2.Whileimaginativeliterature(富有想象力的文学作品,fiction,mythology,poetry,drama,etc)inAmericaremainedderivative(派生的;拷贝的)anddependent,theheroicandrevolutionaryambitionsoftheagehadcreatedgreatpoliticalpamphleteering(小册子)andstatepapers.Essayistsandjournalistshadshapedthenation’sbeliefswithreasondressedinclearandforcefulprose.III.Literature3.RepresentativeworksThomasJefferson:DeclarationofIndependenceThomasPaine:TheAmericanCrisis;RightsofMan;TheFederalistBenjaminFranklin:PoorRichard’sAlmanac;TheAutobiographyBenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)Apatriot,diplomat,author,printer,scientist,andinventorintheeighteenthcentury;oneoftheFoundingFathersoftheUnitedStates.BenjaminFranklin(1706-1790)Hewasajackofalltrades;Borninapoorcandlemaker’sfamilyinBostonandhadnoregulareducation;Becameanapprenticetoaprinterwhenhewas12;Aneditorofanewspaperandpublishedlotsofessayswhenhewas16;HewenttoPhiladelphiawhenhewas17andbecameasuccessfulprinterandpublisher;FoundtheJunto,aclubforinformaldiscussionofscientific,economicandpoliticalideas;I.LifeEstablishedAmerica’sfirstcirculatinglibrary;Foundedthecollege—UniversityofPennsylvania;Retiredwhenhewas42.I.Life(1)abusinessman;(2)Ascientistwithlotsofinventionsandafamousexperiment(kite,electricity,thunderstorm);firstappliedtheterms“positive”and“negative”toelectricalcharges(电荷).(3)astatesmanAsarepresentativeoftheColonies,hetriedinvaintocounseltheBritishtowardpoliciesthatwouldletAmericagrowandflourishinassociationwithEngland.HeconductedthedifficultnegotiationswithFrancethatbroughtfinancialandmilitarysupportforAmericainthewar.I.LifeDeclarationofIndependenceTheTreatyofAlliancewithFranceTheTreatyofPeacewithEnglandTheConstitution(4)awriter(5)anembodimentofthe“AmericanDream”II.LiterarycareerAsanauthorhehadpowerofexpression.Hisworksarewell-knownfortheirsimplicity,subtlehumorandbeingsarcastic.1.Representati