1. American Literature

2.  By 1750 there were fourth and fifth generations of Americans.  In 1760 – most colonists had not given thought to the prospect of independence.  Between 1760 and the mid-1770s attitudes towards King George III changed dramatically.  Parliament in England imposed a number of regulations that threatened the liberties of the colonists.

3.  The 18 th century is often characterized as ‘The Enlightenment’ or ‘The Age of Reason.’  Great 17 th century thinkers: Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Rousseau, and John Locke.  Writers of this time valued reason over faith. Believed in the possibility of a perfect society because man was naturally good, not evil.

4.  Political writers include Franklin, Paine, and Jefferson.  These writers not only believed in the philosophy of the time, but put it into practice.

5.  The American Revolution was preceded by the French and Indian War.  This was a struggle between England and France for control of North America.  England won and there was joy in the colonies.  However, in order to pay for this war, the king began to impose taxes in the colonies.

6.  Stamp Act of 1765: this added a cost to 54 ordinary items.  Colonists were outraged-it was eventually repealed.  The Townshend Acts of 1767: taxed paper, paint, glass, lead, and tea.  This prompted the Boston Massacre – this Act was repealed.

7.  The Tea Act: gave England a monopoly on the distribution of tea.  This prompted the Boston Tea Party.  A full shipment of tea was dumped into the Boston Harbor.  As punishment, the Coercive Acts were passed, which shut down the Boston Harbor and insisted that English soldiers be housed in colonial homes.  This quickly became known as the Intolerable Acts.

8.  April 19, 1775: 700 British troops met 70 colonial minutemen on the Lexington green.  A musket shot was fired and shortly after 8 Americans lay dead.  The troops then headed to Concord.  This is the official start of the American Revolution – “American blood had been spilled on American soil.”

9.  Battle of Bunker Hill: Americans wounded over 1000 British soldiers.  Most fighting till now took place in Massachusetts – but the revolt involved all of the colonies.  Two days before Bunker Hill, the Americans named a commander in chief for the American Army – George Washington.

10.  More than a year passed before the Americans declared their independence.  More than six years passed before the war ended.  In 1777 at the battle of Saratoga in upstate New York, the Americans were surround by the British and 5700 were forced to surrender.  This was a turning point, because upon hearing this in France, they recognized the colonies as a sovereign nation and sent aid in the form of troops.

11.  The final battle was at Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781.  With the aid of the French and enlisted African Americans, General George Washington’s army surrounded an 8000 man troop under the force of General Cornwallis.  Seeing that escape was impossible – Cornwallis surrendered.

12.  The path to self government is not always smooth.  Articles of Confederation established a “League of Friendship”  There were three main issues with the AofC: They did not have the ability to raise an army, there was no monetary structure, and there was no ability to raise taxes.

13.  Contrary to the soul searching literature of the Puritans – Revolutionary writing was public.  By the time of Washington’s inauguration, there were nearly forty magazine publications.  Journalists and printers provided a forum for the expression of ideas.  Topics focused on relations with Great Britain and political writing.

14.  1770s and 1780s were very tumultuous – this time shaped not only our country, but the world.  Patrick Henry was an amazing orator who brought cries of ‘treason!’  His speech to the Virginia Convention expressed rising sentiment for independence. “Give me liberty or give me death!”

15.  Thomas Paine was perhaps more influential that any other writer in swaying public opinion.  He wrote a pamphlet in 1776 titled Common Sense, which was written to the common man and swept the colonies, selling 100,000 copies in three months.

16.  The Declaration of Independence was first drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June of 1776.  The finished document is the collaborative effort of a committee of five statesmen including Benjamin Franklin.  The Declaration of Independence is one of the most influential political statements ever made.

17.  The Constitution of the United States, drafted in 1787 was only hoped to survive a generation.  It is the foundation of a national super power of 50 states, 250 million people, and has only been amended 27 times!  Ratification was not easy though. Delaware ratified it first and one of the last to ratify was New York.

18.  Alexander Hamilton – who did not particularly like the Constitution – still wanted it ratified in his home state of New York.  He, along with James Madison, and John Jay, wrote a series of essays titled The Federalist, to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution.  These essays are recognized as authoritative statements on the principles of American government.

19.  Political writing dominated, but it wasn’t the only form of writing published during this period.  Broadside Ballads were also published: this is a single sheet of paper, printed on one or both sides in verse, that deals with a current topic.  Poets to know are Phillis Wheatly: Born in Africa, brought over as a slave, published in England while still a young woman.

20.  Michel-Guillaume Crevecoeur: soldier of fortune, world traveler, and a farmer.  He published his impressions of life, from his home in Orange County New York – Letters from an American Farmer.  Benjamin Franklin – Poor Richard’s Almanack became familiar in most American households.  Popular aphorisms include: No man e’er was glorious, who was not laborious, Little strokes, fell great Oaks, and An Ugly wife makes a great cook

21.  During the revolutionary period America began to develop an identity of its own.  A number of new universities and colleges were established during this time.  Art and Music also began to flourish.

22.  By early 1800s America can boast of a small national body of literature which include writings from the Native Americans, Explorers, Puritans, and Revolutionaries of the Enlightenment.  As the eighteenth century came to a close, the nation stood on the threshold of a territorial and population explosion – unique in the history of the world.