The Enlightenment Period

The eighteenth century was a time of many economic, social, philosophical, and scientific changes. Many great inventions came about during this time span including the piano, the first mercury thermometer, and the lightening rod (Bellis). Many of these inventions came about because "many intellectuals now believed in the power of the human mind to comprehend the universe as never before" (Gura 365). These beliefs led to what is now known as the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason. During the Enlightenment, people "defined their highest duties in social rather than in spiritual terms" (Gura 367). The population in the colonies increased by nearly 1,500,000 people from 1670-1760, and the amount of settled land tripled. Many people believe that this population increase justifies the increase in the amount of diverse opinions pertaining to religious and political life in the eighteenth century (Gura 366). The first part of the Enlightenment dealt mostly with religion. There were many religious revivals in America as well as England, which led to the "Great Awakening" in the colonies in the middle of the century. During this time, preachers such as George Whitefield used emotion to bring people to the altar. The second part of the Enlightenment dealt mainly with politics. Although more women began publishing literary works, most of them did so under a feminine pen name to remain somewhat anonymous (Gura 373). Women were still fighting for equality but towards the end of the eighteenth century a movement for women to be educated like men had started to gain strength (Gura 374). In January of 1776, Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, was published in the colonies "to urge immediate independence from Britain" (Gura 640). On July 4, 1776, the colonies issued the Declaration of Independence, and in 1789 George Washington was elected as the first president. The Enlightenment was not only a period of many changes for America, but it was also a huge step for the future of the United States.

                    Works Cited
Bellis, Mary. "18th Century Timeline." About.com. The New York Times          Company. Web. 12 Sep. 2012


Gura, Phillip F. "American Literature 1700-1820." The Norton Anthology       American Literature: Beginnings to 1820 Volume A. Ed. Nina                 Baym. New York: Norton, 2012. 365-949. Print.


- Tori Cochran