Philosophies+of+the+Colonial+Period

=American Philosophical Origins and Conflicts= =17th Century= = Long before any European set foot onto American soil there were existing communities and nations who populated this region. The history of American Philosophy essentially began as European colonization began. When the new settlers began to question the nature of self, the connections between people, and origins and destiny of their lives, so too did American philosophy. Beginning with the Puritans and the Pilgrims, these questions, combined with their extreme faith, became their basis for life. = === The //Mayflower Compact//, which essentially linked man’s obligation not only to each other, but to some type of organized government as well, the new philosophy began. This attitude was echoed in the beginning documents of other colonies as well, as seen in the //Fundamental Orders of Connecticut// (1639) and the //Massachusetts Body of Liberties// (1641). Similarly, the writings of well-known early colonial leaders, such as John Winthrop (1588-1649) stressed “the care of the public must oversway all private respects…for it is a true rule that particular estates cannot subsist in the ruin of the public.” Although some of these early spokespersons were well-known, not everyone agreed with their philosophies, opting instead to develop and promote their own ideas. Unlike the Puritan community, other colonies stressed the concept of religious toleration (Maryland Toleration Act of 1649) and the founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, thought toleration of others should be stronger than any specific religious commitment to a community. Therefore, social and political issues and how an individual related to his or her community was more vital than one's religious affiliation. ===

=18th Century= = By the time the country enters the 18th century, American Philosophy is a conflict of ideas that can be divided into two parts; the first continued to be heavily influenced by the Calvinism of the Puritans and the second more directly along the lines of the European Enlightenment and associated with the political philosophy of the Founding Fathers (e.g., Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin). = === As the ideas of the Great Awakening began to sweep the colonies, evangelists like Jonathan Edwards continued the Calvinistic traditions with sermons like “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards both refined and incorporated Calvinist theological thought and the newly emerging scientific worldview. Edwards was often described as trying to carefully combine strict Calvinistic teachings and the importance of the spiritual world with an emphasis on Locke’s ideas regarding the Natural Rights of Man, and Newton’s laws of physics. Edwards preached that it was human nature to go against or to resist some things. Claiming that this power of resistance is “the actual exertion of God’s power” and could be demonstrated by Newton’s basic laws of motion, in which objects at rest or in motion will remain unmoved until and unless acted on by some other force. According to Edwards, every act of will was connected to understanding, and thus is determined by God. Echoing the views of John Calvin, Edwards did not rely on (good) works, but the grace of God as the determiner of human fortune. === === The later part of the century is dominated by of European philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment who abandoned, for the most part, the religious context of things and focused rather on social-political issues. The European philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment promoted various ideas ("such as a reliance on reason and science, a broad faith in scientific and social progress along with a belief in the perfectibility of humans, a strong advocacy of political democracy and laissez-faire economics"). Many of the Founding Fathers identified themselves with this Enlightenment thought. Men such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison wrote volumes on 18th century social and political philosophy. The American //Declaration of Independence// as well as the //United States Constitution//, with the Bill of Rights, was drafted during this time. Although contrdictory, much emphasis was placed upon the concept of equality for man, liberty, popular sovereignty, and religious toleration. With less emphasis on religion itself, these men focused rather on social-political-economic issues and how scientific enlightenment thought could transfer to each. === === Although they included clear references to God in many of America’s earliest documents, the Founding Fathers tended to commit themselves less in their writings to Christianity as such and more to deism, or the idea that God was the creator of a world which is governed by natural laws. Each emphasized the natural, inalienable rights of the individual against the tyranny of the State – with the legitimacy of the State only in securing the rights of individuals while also highlighting the dangers of factional democracy as this could hinder the protection of individual rights and the public good. ===

__SOURCE:__ The Internet Encyclopedia of American Philosophy []
=Conflicts in American Philosophy: Annihilation of the Native Americans and the Institution of Slavery= =[|Ending the Indian Culture] Click this link to view the value and destruction of the buffalo= =[|Broken Promises] Click this link to view a series of broken promises= =[|Origins of Slavery] Click this link for a video from the History Channel= =[|Jefferson's View of Slavery] Click this link to hear Jefferson's fear regarding slavery= =[|Photo Gallery: Slave Life] Click this link for photos of slave life= =[|Popular Music of Colonial America] Click this link to hear various selections that were popular=