Adams was influenced by the classical republican ideal of civic eloquence espoused by British philosopher [[David Hume]].<ref> See David Hume, "Of Eloquence," in ''Essays, Political and Moral'' *1742)</ref> Adams adapted these classical republican ideals of public oratory to America, viewing the multilevel political structure as ripe for "the renaissance of Demosthenic eloquence." Adams's ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory'' (1810) looks at the fate of ancient oratory, the necessity of liberty for it to flourish, and its importance as a unifying element for a new nation of diverse cultures and beliefs. Just as civic eloquence failed to gain popularity in Britain, in the United States interest faded in the second decade of the 18th century as the "public spheres of heated oratory" disappeared in favor of the private sphere.<ref> Adam S. Potkay, "Theorizing Civic Eloquence in the Early Republic: the Road from David Hume to John Quincy Adams." ''Early American Literature'' (1999) 34(2): 147-170. </ref> | Adams was influenced by the classical republican ideal of civic eloquence espoused by British philosopher [[David Hume]].<ref> See David Hume, "Of Eloquence," in ''Essays, Political and Moral'' *1742)</ref> Adams adapted these classical republican ideals of public oratory to America, viewing the multilevel political structure as ripe for "the renaissance of Demosthenic eloquence." Adams's ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory'' (1810) looks at the fate of ancient oratory, the necessity of liberty for it to flourish, and its importance as a unifying element for a new nation of diverse cultures and beliefs. Just as civic eloquence failed to gain popularity in Britain, in the United States interest faded in the second decade of the 18th century as the "public spheres of heated oratory" disappeared in favor of the private sphere.<ref> Adam S. Potkay, "Theorizing Civic Eloquence in the Early Republic: the Road from David Hume to John Quincy Adams." ''Early American Literature'' (1999) 34(2): 147-170. </ref> |