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Early American Writing

Early American Writing. 1600-1800. POWER. A huge part of Colonial Lit (and the history of the U.S.) is the concept of power. Who has it? Who doesn’t? Who SHOULD? Writers of the time often focused on this as well as what was important to them. 4 Questions of the Times. Who owns the land?

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Early American Writing

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  1. Early American Writing 1600-1800

  2. POWER • A huge part of Colonial Lit (and the history of the U.S.) is the concept of power. Who has it? Who doesn’t? Who SHOULD? • Writers of the time often focused on this as well as what was important to them.

  3. 4 Questions of the Times • Who owns the land? • What makes an explorer? • Are people basically good? • Who has the right to rule?

  4. "Extraordinary experiences of ordinary people" – Meeting of 2 Worlds • Been there thousands & thousands of years, not “discovered” • 1st colony = Jamestown 1607 • By 1733, all along Atlantic • Self-reliance & self-rule desire • 1st colonists = YEAH ENG! • FR & Indian War 1759-1763, sent soldiers, help • Tax = division • Ben Franklin, T. Jefferson, = Dec of Ind & Constit.’n

  5. Cultural Influences • RELIGION – most imp. • Puritan settlers 1600s. Sought to purify Church of ENG, simpler way • Chosen by God (manifest destiny) • John Winthrop • Valued hard work, thrift, responsibility = morally good • Bad side = inflexible & intolerant. (Witch trials)

  6. Ideas of the Age A Voice from the Times We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. —Thomas Jefferson from the Declaration of Independence • The Enlightenment (VIDEO!) • 1700s = burst of intellect. • Energy in EUR • Question everything, basically • Pointed to gov’t by ppl. • Amer’n colonists adopted • Shaped by T. Jefferson, B. Franklin, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry = “give me liberty or give me death!”

  7. The Great Awakening • Worried Puritan (PUR) values being lost. • Jonathan Edwards (preacher) – ppl need to recommit, new wave of enthusiasm • Called “First Great Awakening” • United colonists • 2 = opposites (Enlight & Awak), but same result = QUESTION AUTHORITY

  8. Early American Lit – N. Amer Experience • More than 300 diff. N.Am cultures w/diff customs, 200 lang’s • No written language (Don’t Crush Your Bird!!) • Oral traditions: stories told gener’n to gener’n • Style: creation stories – how everything came to be, migration history, fairy tales, lyrics, chants, songs, etc. • Many lost 90% of ppl

  9. Exploration & Early Settlers • 1st P. accounts • Explorers – Christopher Columbus, vivid record • 50 yrs later = Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, survivor of expedition. • FR & Dutch = Samuel de Champlain • Early settlers: letters, reports to friends/fam back home • Colonial histories = less focus on descriptive, more on growth of colonies • Capt. John Smith – VA & N. Eng • William Bradford, John Winthrop Sr, • OlaudahEquiano – captured f/African home (diff. viewpoint)

  10. Puritan Tradition • Puritan Wife Swap! • Writing = useful to them • Help u understand Bible • Logic, clarity, reason = valued. • Sermons & other writings • Cotton Mather – witch trials • Jonathan Edwards (both PUR) – sermons • Scare the ba-jeezers out of you w/speeches “Fire & Brimstone” • PUR poetry • Anne Bradstreet • Edward Taylor • Deep faith, love of husband/kids, male-dominated

  11. Writers of the Revolution • Pamphlets & Propaganda • 1763-1783: 2,000 published • Cause vs. Britain • Common Sense by Thomas Paine • T. Jefferson, pamphlets but his #1 = DEC of IND., natural law – ppl born w/rights & freedom • B. Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, G. Washington • Developed Constitution • People: also non-politicians • Former slave – Phillis Wheatley – poems/letters • Abigail Adams (wife of John) – include rights of women

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