| I. American Revolution |
A. Mythic
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B. Eighteenth-century
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| II. Thomas Jefferson |
A. Historical importance
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B. Personal importance
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| III. The Declaration of Independence |
A. Reflects Enlightenment ideas
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1. Two schools of thought
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a. Newtonian
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(1) In words of opening ("human," "course,"
"necessary," "laws of nature," "nature's God")
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(2) In setting up proof ("give the facts")
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b. "Social contract"
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(1) From John Locke
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(2) From Scottish Enlightenment thinkers
("common sense")
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2. Three-part reasoned structure
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a. Premises ("self-evident")
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b. Proof ("facts")
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c. Conclusion ("therefore")
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B. Employs neoclassical style
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1. Awareness of classical tradition of rhetoric
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a. Appeal to logic
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b. Appeal to emotion
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c. Appeal to ethics
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2. Diction
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a. Varied levels of language
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b. Literary devices
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3. Sentence patterns
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a. Anaphora
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b. Antithesis
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c. Parallelism
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| IV. Thomas Paine |
A. Accomplishments
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1. Popularized Revolutionary thought ("Common Sense")
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2. Supported Revolutionary War ("American Crisis")
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B. Writings
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1. Fully reflect Enlightenment thought
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a. Newtonian natural law
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b. "Social contract"
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c. "Common Sense" rationality
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2. Artistically employ neoclassical style
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a. "Middle," plain style
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b. Personal voice
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c. Appeal to audience
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d. Emotional tone
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e. Literary devices
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| V. New national identity |