Romanticism 1800-1850

Colonial Period 1776

Social background:

Colonization of Americ, the first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1617, Puritans.

Literature: This period was at the very beginnings of America and it made way for the rest of the countries literature. In the first stages of America there were writers, such as Thomas Hariot, who wrote A Brief and True Report of the New-Found Land of Virginia in 1588; in which he described “The Americas” in words and picture. The book was quickly translated into Latin, French, and German; it was a window for the Old World to see an embellished version of the New World.

Others that dominated this era were the Puritans whose definition of good writing was writing that brought home a full awareness of the importance of worshipping God and of the spiritual dangers that the soul faced on Earth, and the literature that was produced by the Puritans reflected this.

American Puritanism is one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and literature; The representatives of the Enlightenment set themselves the task of disseminating knowledge among the people and advocating revolutionary ideas. They also actively participated in the War for Independence.

*the Puritans emphasize hard work, piety and sobriety; The earliest writings include diaries, traveling books, journals, letters, sermons even government contracts.

Characteristic of literature:

- Symbols

- The Bible

- Daily life

- Idealism

- Pragmatism

- Unity, Free Choice, and Order

- Regeneration

- Worldly Matters

- Conflicts between the world and spirituality

- Surrounded by Satan

Edward Taylor, John Woolman, Anne Bradstreet, William Bradford

Age of Reason 1770-1800

Social background: Industrial Revolution; western expansion; immigrant’s contribution; political ideal of equality and democracy; the influence of European Romanticists

1789 George Washington is elected president of the United States

First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified.

Literature: The Age of Reason

This period was a time when authors were focused more on their own reasoning rather than simply taking what the church taught as fact. During this period there was also cultivation of patriotism. The main medium during that period were political pamphlets, essays, travel writings, speeches, and documents.

Human ability to reason was glorified.

The word “Enlightenment” means time of illumination.

Thomas Jefferson and “The Declaration of Independence;” Philip Freneau and his Poems

*the earliest writer- Benjamin Franklin and “Poor Richard’s Almanac” and“Autobiography” which is the recording of his rising from a state of poverty and obscurity to wealth and fame. Mottos in “Poor Richard’s Almanac”:

Lost time is never found again.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Fish and visitors stink in three days.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

*other important figures - Thomas Paine and “Common Sense,” “American Crisis;”

Romanticism 1800-1850

Social background: the impact of American Civil War; increasing industrialization; the widening contrast of wealth and poverty; popular feeling of frustration and disillusionment

1846-1848 Mexican War: U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest

1848 Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California; gold rush reaches its height the following year.

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