1. REALISM in American Literature The Civil War – 1914 ( pre WWI)

2. Political and Social Milestones The Civil War 1861- 1865 New weapons-better accuracy New ways of warfare -trench warfare -fewer cavalry assaults -higher casualties An all-or-nothing war Created a war style used in WWI

3. The End of Slavery and Westward Expansion 1862 Emancipation Proclamation The Thirteenth Amendment 1862- Homestead Act * 160 acres of ground- 5 years * Whites and Freed Slaves * Transcontinental Railroad * Farmers, miners, ranchers

4. Milestones Photography 1860’s Many pictures lost- glass used as windows later or as gas masks in WWI People could view a war and its aftermath By 1908 Ford Model T changed American life

5. Changing Literature of the time- Soldiers’ letters and diaries Journalistic writings Novels- not written- Writers were not in the battles

6. Changing Literature of the time- cont’d Thoreau, Hawthorne, Dickenson died during the war years Other writers were overseas Current writing styles didn’t meet the needs of telling about war

7. REALISTIC STYLE Works/themes were now based on -ordinary life -slums in growing cities -factories replacing farm life -corrupt politics -prostitution -human behavior- an emerging science -plain, everyday language Regionalism—specific settings, geographic areas, dialects, local manners Huckleberry Finn is considered to be the best example of Realistic/Regional writing Mark Twain is considered the father of Modern Literature

8. The move from Realism to Naturalism- Literature would now Analyze people objectively Decide that human behavior is set by heredity and environment State that humans cannot control their destiny State that life is a losing battle in an uncaring universe