Cultural Heritage II

The Old Regime and the Ameican Revolution

 

Some Themes in the Culture of Europe, 1715-1789, an Era of Transition:

 

Religion:

 

 

The Agricultural Revolution:

 

 

 

Politics: Enlightened Absolutism

 

 

Great Britain:

 

 

France:

 

 

Colonization:

 

Great Britain:

 

 

France:

 

 

Military:

 

 

 

Humanities (Art, Music, Literature):

 

The Novel (a middle-class, and largely female, cultural institution):

 

            Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1722)

 

            Samuel Richardson (1689-1761): Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740)

 

 

 

 

Newspapers and Engraving

 

            The “Public Sphere” emerges, along with liberal movements for reform.

 

 

            William Hogarth (1697-1764), Gin Lane (1750), many others.

 

 

 

American Revolution (1776-1786):

 

 

National Character: British vs. American Culture (as reflected in painting, DISCUS?)

 

 

            Ambition Thwarted (Benjamin Franklin, 1709-1790) 

 

           

            French and Indian War (Seven Years War, 1765-63, see Map p. 532)

 

 

            Taxation without Representation (Stamp Act, 1765; Boston Tea Party, 1773)

           

                        See list of other grievances in “Declaration.”

 

 

            Incident combined with Propaganda (Boston Massacre, 1770)

 

 

            Alternative Government (Continental Congress, Philadelphia, 1776)

 

 

            Revolutionary Manifesto (“Declaration,” 1776)

 

 

“The Declaration of Independence” (1776)

 

            Influence of John Locke (revisited):

 

                        Place in History

 

                        Natural Law/Deism

 

                        Common Sense/Self Evidence

 

                        Equality (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness)

 

                        Government by Consent of Governed

 

                        Revolutionary System but Prudent (build-in little revolutions)

 

                        Opposition to Despotism (even if “Enlightened”)

 

 

Slavery and the Problem of National Unity: