A Nation Born
(1750 – 1800)
American Timeline
• 1754 - French and Indian War begins
• 1763 – French and Indian War Ends
• 1765 – Stamp Act
• 1770 – Boston Massacre
•
• 1773 – Boston Tea Party
American Timeline
• 1774 – 1st Continental Congress meets in
Philadelphia
• 1775 – Revolutionary War starts
• 1775 – Patrick Henry gives “liberty and
death” speech at VA convention
• 1776 – Declaration of Independence
adopted
American Timeline
• 1778 – France recognizes U.S. as independent
signing a treaty of alliance
• 1783 – Revolutionary War ends
• 1789 – George Washington becomes President
• 1800 – Thomas Jefferson becomes President
Period Also Known As:
• Colonial period
• Age of Reason and Enlightenment
• Rationalism
Define Rationalism
A belief or theory that
opinions and actions
should be based on
reason and
knowledge rather
than on religious
belief or emotional
response.
Interesting Information
• during 2nd half of 18th century most of American
literature was political in nature.
• the most notable writers were statesmen and the
founders of the republic.
Interesting Information
• Between 1760 – 1770
after King George III
and Parliament
imposed regulations
that threatened
colonists liberties
thoughts turned
toward independence
Interesting Information
• On July 4th 1776 the
Declaration of
Independence was
signed capping off
more than a decade
of controversy
between England and
the American
colonies.
Age of Reason
and
Enlightenment
Influences of
Reason & Enlightenment
• Galileo and Sir Isaac
Newton – two
scientists that
influenced this period
• Reason over faith
• Belief that people
were basically good
Influences of
Reason & Enlightenment
• Voltaire – a French writer
• John Locke – an English political theorist
• Statesmen of Revolutionary period were
figures of enlightenment: Thomas Paine,
Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas
Jefferson
French & Indian War
• Began in 1754
• Ending in 1763
• France gave up its
claim to North
American territory
Stamp Act
Stamp Act Facts:
• 1765 England passed the
Stamp Act on the colonies to
help pay their war debt
• The act required
buying/placing stamps on all
kinds of products
• Colonist were angry so they
burned stamps/stores & beat
stamp sellers
• Within 6 months the Stamp Act
was repealed
World Turned
Upside Down
American
Revolutionary War
• 1775 start of American
Revolutionary War
• At 2nd Continental
Congress - George
Washington named
commander in Chief of
official American Army
American
Revolutionary War
• 1 yr. colonists declare
independence
• 6 yrs. Later at the
battle of Saratoga
marked the change,
France sent troops to
help Americans
American
Revolutionary War
War ends
Oct. 19, 1781
Yorktown, Virginia
New Nation
Growing Pains
Colonists learn to selfgovern, but it was not
always easy
Articles of Confederation
established a “league of
friendship” among the
new states – didn’t work
Federal Constitution
replaced
A Bill of Rights had to be
added – people were
fearful of a centralized
power
Important Men
of Change
• George Washington
• John Adams
• Thomas Jefferson
Literature of the
Time
Literature of the Time
• Puritans were soul searching in their writings
• Americans were interested in public writings
EX: newspapers, magazines, Speeches
Politics in Literature
Politics in Literature
• ideas of
independence
• tyranny of
British/English
• Thomas Paine’s
pamphlet called
Common Sense
published in 1776
(about independence)
Declaration Of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the
Declaration of Independence
• It is one of the most influential political
statements/documents ever made
• a committee of 5 individuals was involved in its creation
The Federalist Essays
• The Federalist Papers
were written and
published in 1787 &
1788 in several New
York State
newspapers to
persuade New York
voters to ratify the
proposed constitution.
The Federalist Essays
• the Federalist Papers consist of 85 essays
outlining how this new government would
operate and why this type of government was
the best choice for the United States of America.
Cultural Scene
Cultural Scene Develops
• Broadside ballads – appeared in
newspapers - deal with a current topics
• Phillis Wheatly – a slave wrote poetry
• Benjamin Franklin - most famous writer of
the times
Cultural Scene Develops
America begins to develop a culture all its own
• American Painters
• Theatres
• Colleges established – UGA est. 1785
American Literature
at Daybreak
American
Literature
Who Contributed to it?
The Contributors Are:
• Native American
contributed through
their oral traditions
• Puritan’s had their
soul-searching
religious writings
• Statesmen their
political documents
American Literature Facts
• A few poets and essayists
• Short stories not invented yet
• Great national literature took more time to develop
almost a century
• Frontier exploration expanded American literature
• Spirit of growth and reason
Age of Reason &
Discipline
Age of Reason & Discipline
• clear logical thought
through sound
arguments
• self improvement and
improvement as a
country/land
Personal Strength and
Determination are the
principles that America
was founded on.
The End
References Used :
Google Images, Prentice Literature Book