The Eighteenth Century in America was period of time labeled by the works of enlightened writers, thinkers, and scientists. Focus on reason over faith by many during the Age of Reason was spurred by the work of Sir Issac Newton and Galileo, scientists of the seventeenth century.
In America, politics dominated the writings because of the Revolution: "By the time of the War of Independence, nearly fifty newspapers had been established in coastal cities"(95). Due to the enormous amount of political writing, many influential names, such as James Otis, the French writer Voltaire, and the French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau emerged and their explosive works reflected the rationalism of the period. James Otis defended colonist rights during the time of taxation proclaiming: "Taxation without representation is tyranny"(96), causing many Americans to rally to his cause. As a result, many thinkers, like Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, of the Age of Reason issued pleas for......
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