Philip Freneau
Born January 2, 1752 (New York, New York)
Died December 19, 1832 (Monmouth County, New Jersey)
Poet, editor
Philip Freneau was a major early American poet who used his wit and literary skills to advance America's political goals at the end of the eighteenth century. His talent and dedication to the revolutionary cause earned him the title "poet of the American Revolution." Many other authors from his time wrote for the cultured, wealthy citizens of the nation, but Freneau was different; he identified with the common people. Freneau devoted his life to public service, pouring his energy into propaganda (information distributed for the purpose of promoting a viewpoint) for American independence and full democracy (a government ruled through majority decisions made by the people).
Freneau also advocated the idea of naturalism (the belief in a natural order to the world that can be explained through the sciences). Many people still believed in supernatural forces, such as witches and demons, which were largely out of their control and often caused evil in the world. Therefore, Freneau's work brought fresh interest and attention to the study of nature. He also worked for social change away from the large governments ruled by the wealthy andmonarchies because he believed that people had lived in natural simplicity in ancient times doing good with their lives for their fellow humans before the coming of large complex societies.
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