When was the Revolutionary Era / Age of Reason?

• A. 1700-1750
• B. 1800-1850
• C. 1750-1800
• D. 1650-1700

Answer: (C)

The Revolu­tionary Era and the Age of Reason in American literature unfold roughly from 1750 to 1800. This period captures the height of Enlightenment thinking in the colonies—an emphasis on reason, science, and rights—and the political ferment that led to independence, the drafting of foundational documents, and the early United States. Widening from the mid-1700s through the end of the 18th century, it includes influential pamphlets, essays, and speeches that fueled revolutionary ideas and helped shape a new national literature. Dates earlier than 1750 miss the mature Enlightenment influence, while dates after 1800 lean into new literary movements that come after this era.