The novel, Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe and first published in 1719, is an important literary piece of the Enlightenment period, as it expresses the Enlightenment themes of individualism, exploration and the rejection of authority. ... The ideas of the Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant can be seen to influence the novel and the character of Robinson Crusoe. In Immanuel Kant's essay, What Is Enlightenment, Kant describes a scenario in which "guardians"6, those who are in a position of power over others, attempt to prevent those in their power from maturing, and...

• Word Count: 2166
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

His antislavery stance forced his audience to question the core of their American beliefs in a Republic which traced its history back to the Enlightenment. ... Their arguments, despite using different methods of persuasion, were sound and based on establishing affinity with their audience through Biblical references, Enlightenment ideals, or personal narrative so that everyone would eventually come to believe that all men and women deserved the right to be free....

• Word Count: 1369
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Haitian, Mexican, and most Latin American revolutions were inspired by the Enlightenment ideas. ... The Enlightenment ideas of liberty and equality inspired the oppressed classes from the social structure of these colonies to rebel against their oppressors. ...

• Word Count: 1312
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

When it comes to the theory of any particular enlightenment, we cannot overlook the accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker, because his inventions and theories have contributed to the adaptation of the political, social, and economic structures within the United States. ... However, Benjamin Banneker's theories of any particular enlightenment have contributed to the adaptation of the political, social, and economic structures within the United States. ...

• Word Count: 1655
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Although Frederick Douglass's "Heroic Slave" is somewhat unique when looked at beside his other works, alone it acts a good argument for the validity of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s assertions in his essay, "American Letters, American Voices". The main thesis of Gates's essay deals with the idea that a ...

• Word Count: 1334
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

From Colonies to Nations: The Struggle for Independence Many Latin American colonies gained their independence from colonial control early in the early 1800s. The political structure and way of leading the countries then, were structured mainly by the Enlightenment. Because of the rise of the Indus...

• Word Count: 1261
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

During the 1600 and 1700's, the New World slave trade was gaining momentum, as hundreds of thousands of slaves were shipped to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade route. Approximately 7.7 million Africans were transported to the New World between 1492 and 1820 (Foner 133). Slavery in Amer...

• Word Count: 1397
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Captivity narratives were popular with readers in both American and the European communities. Captivity narratives of Americans relate the experiences of whites enslaved by Native Americans and Africans enslaved by Americans. Two widely read captivity narratives are The Interesting Narrative of the ...

• Word Count: 1490
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the first three chapters of "The Way We Lived " we are introduced to many different cultures and experiences throughout the first history of civilized America. In chapter one we are taken back to 1492 New England to see the day to day lives of two very prominent and influential Native American tr...

• Word Count: 1798
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American poet published in the United States. The subject matter in the majority of her poems reflected her religious views and her new life in revolutionary New England. She believed that through finding God in one's life, salvation and mercy would follow. She...

• Word Count: 2218
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School