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Literature of Early America

Literature of Early America. Beginnings-1750. The Native Americans. Native Americans- First to inhabit North America (at least 30 time longer than Europeans). No written history. Information from archaeologists and folklorists. Earliest settlers greeted as friends.

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Literature of Early America

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  1. Literature of Early America Beginnings-1750

  2. The Native Americans • Native Americans- First to inhabit North America (at least 30 time longer than Europeans). • No written history. • Information from archaeologists and folklorists. • Earliest settlers greeted as friends. • Introduced settlers to maize, beans, squash, etc. and taught them survival skills.

  3. Pilgrims and Puritans • 1620- Mayflower sailed from England • Pilgrims- Known as Puritans (religious reformers)- Attempting to “purify” the Church of England • Also called Separatists • Established Plymouth, Massachusetts- Eventually overtaken by Massachusetts Bay Colony.

  4. Pilgrims and Puritans • Wanted a theocracy- A state guided completely by God. • Believed in predestination. • God has already decided who will go to Heaven and who will not. • They searched for signs they were chosen for Heaven. • Believed they only did good through hard work and discipline. • Referred to as “Puritan ethic”

  5. Pilgrims and Puritans • Rise in Protestants led to decline in Puritanism in early 1700s. • 1720- The Great Awakening • Reaction to decline. • Ministers such as Jonathan Edward and George Whitfield tried to revive Puritanism.

  6. The Southern Planters • New England and southern coastal cities established. • Also established- Plantations in the South. • Plantations: • Large scale • Up to 1000 workers (most slaves) • 1619- First black slaves brought to Virginia. • Slavery existed in every colony. • 1750- Plantation system’s peak. • Most plantation owners were aristocrats.

  7. Native American Tradition • Oral tradition: • The story could change with each telling. • No set versions of any Native American myths, songs, etc. exist. • Instead of famous authors, they had famous orators. • Logan • Red Jacket • Literature shows deep respect for nature

  8. Explorers’ Accounts • First Europeans to come to the Americas: • Vikings- Canada- around 1000 AD • Christopher Columbus- • Italian • Trying to reach Asia by sailing west. • Financial backing- Queen Isabella of Spain • August 1492- Set sail • October 12- Landed in Bahamas (thought it was Asia). • Wrote about it in Journal of the First Voyage to America. • Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca- 400-man expedition to Texas (4 survivors) • Garcia Lopez de Cardenas- Grand Canyon

  9. “In Adams Fall/We Sinned All” • Puritan writing: • Religious- hyms, biographies, autobiographies, theological studies • Purpose of all writing- Religious insight • Fiction, drama- Sinful • Did write poetry- • No clear form, only meant to send a spiritual message • Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor

  10. “In Adams Fall/We Sinned All” • Valued education: • Harvard- 1636 • First printing press- 1639 • Free public schools- 1647 • New England Primer- 1690 • Like a textbook that combined education and religion. • Bay Psalm Book- One of the first books printed in the colonies (hymnal)

  11. “In Adams Fall/We Sinned All” • Increase Mather- Wrote more than 130 books: • One of books about Salem Witch Trials (1692) • 20 people hanged as witches • Cotton Mather (Oldest son)- Wrote more than 400 books, very informative style • Puritan literary style: plain • Fancy writing is a sign of vanity.

  12. Southern Writers • John Smith- The General History of Virginia • 1716- First theater opened in Williamsburg, Virginia • Southerners did not object to drama.

  13. The Planter from Westover • William Byrd • Westover- Plantation on the James River • Journal- served as basis for The History of the Dividing Line • Published almost 100 years after his death

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