ENC1101 and English III--Characteristics of the American Enlightenment (Background/Context for Declaration of Independence). Write down in your notebook--you will remember better.

The Age of Enlightenment, Rene Magritte (1967)

Characteristics of the American Enlightenment/Age of Reason (1700s)

1. Focus on Reason

2. Focus on Science and 
    Politics

3. Idea of Progress

4. Focus on Individual  
    Achievement

5. More Optimistic Time Period

6. Humans Viewed as Basically     Good

7. Best Type of Worship: Do Good for Others

8. Deism is Important; Movement Away from Dark Vision of Puritanism

9. Ideas of the Public Citizen, Good Citizenship, Civic Responsibility

10. City/Urban Life is Important

11. Increase in Skepticism/Doubt

12. Ideas about Superstition Decrease--Supplanted by Rational Explanations of the 
      Universe; notions of Cause and Effect

13. Beginning of Ideas about Equality and Democracy

14. Beginning of Ideas of Separation between Church (Religious) and State (Secular)