Enlightenment and Classical Ideas in 18th Century America
Author Caroline Winterer (The Culture of Classicism) discussed how America's founders were influenced by Greek and Roman philosophies as well those from the enlightenment. She also talked about how these classical ideas were used to argue for and against slavery in the antebellum period.
Description
Author Caroline Winterer (The Culture of Classicism) discussed how America's founders were influenced by Greek and Roman philosophies as well those from the enlightenment. She also talked about how these classical ideas were used to argue for and against slavery in the antebellum period.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How were classical and enlightenment ideas connected during the 18th Century?
- Describe the enlightenment idea of progress. How did this change the existing models of thinking at the time?
- How does human reason contribute to progress in enlightenment thinking?
- How did supporters of slavery in America use ideas from ancient Greece to justify slavery?
- How did opponents of slavery in the North use the ideas from ancient Greece?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Antebellum
- Aristotle
- Classicism
- Cyclical
- Declension
- Discourse
- Enlightenment
- Greeks
- Progress
- Romans
- Slavery