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Slavery is brought to America
The first slaves were brought into Jamestown in 1619. The discrimination and pain these slaves went through inspired many famous works in the future of America. The issue of slavery caused the Civil War, which has had a huge impact on America. -
Puritans Settle in America
Plymouth was the first Puritan settlement in the New World. The Puritans were some of the first people in America to experiment with writing. They paved the way for all coming authors, even if their writing was mainly centered around God with little use of underlying meaning. The way Puritan society ran inspired many authors. Salem witch trials, strange laws relating to spirituality, and other behavior led many to write about their opinions of the Puritans. -
Harvard University is Founded
The establishment of a university in America was a very important first step. The existence of higher education allowed America to have leaders who understood politics and economy. This paved the way to America's eventual freedom as well as success. While not everyone got this higher education, there were enough to write both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These members were also responsible for informing the public about complicated matters. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of prosecutions against people accused of witchcraft in early Massachusetts. Over 200 people were accused, with a death count of 25. This series of events is one of America's most popular cases of mass hysteria. They would later inspire literature that used them as a cautionary tale about isolationism, extremism, false accusations, and not following due process. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine published Common Sense to bring attention to his grievances with the current British monarchy. The pamphlet was called common sense because it was meant to appeal to the common man. Paine's pamphlet made the idea of breaking away from Britain much more appealing to commoners, who did not understand politics very well. Common Sense is cited as an inspiration for the writers of the Declaration of Independence. -
America Declares Independence from Britain
Suffering from the whims of a tyrant, discontent began to spread throughout America. It was at this point that they decided to break away from Britain. The Declaration of Independence detailed why the colonies were leaving, and prepared them to wage war. This marked a turning point for America, and led to greater freedoms, protecting those who wanted to call attention to injustices. The ability to write whatever they wanted allowed American authors to flourish and start careers in writing. -
American Industrial Revolution Begins
The Industrial Revolution led to huge shifts in America. The ability to mass produce items with minimal manual labor allowed the middle class to spread, along with lower prices for goods. People began to have time and money to spend on enjoying themselves. The improvements to trains allowed people to move out to suburbs and build large estates. With life becoming less demanding, authors began to have more time to write, as well as an interesting topic in the shifts of social classes. -
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne published The Scarlet Letter to reflect on Puritan values in colonial America. In a time where women had no choice but to take care of the house and live as second class citizens, a story about one such woman who was accused of adultery was intriguing. The story told a tale of the misery caused by the paranoia and strictness that plagued Puritan settlements. This novel has pushed the idea of separating government and religion into the spotlight for some. -
The Civil War Ends
After 4 years of fighting, the Confederates surrender to the Union. The whole war shocked America, but finally ended slavery. The strife faced in the civil war inspired many authors to write about their experiences. This led to a very negative sentiment towards Americans fighting one another. The freeing of slaves gave way to many famous African-American authors, and made a huge impact on society today. -
Jehovah's Witness Forms
The Bible Student movement led to the creation of Jehovah's Witness. The faith spread quickly and made a huge impact. However, the Witness's biggest impact on literature comes from those who were hurt by them. Due to the authors who came out and wrote about all the horrible, cult-like things they would do. The cult manipulates the private life of its members, but has the lasting effect of showing society how big cults can be without anyone knowing. -
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Jungle was written by Upton Sinclair to bring attention to the awful working conditions in factories. Sinclair was upset by how poorly immigrants were treated while they worked. Sinclair described people getting ground into commercial meat, rats falling in the meat, and many more disgusting practices. Although Upton meant to bring attention to immigrants, the book ended up causing demands for health reforms in the food industry. The government ended up listening and began regulating food. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Catches Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company’s fire resulted in the loss of nearly 150 young women in 1911, New York City. The workers at the company had been trying to unionize to get better pay and safer conditions. The factory responded by locking the workers into the building. Fabric scraps, oil and hot machines crammed into rooms made a huge fire. Girls tried to jump from windows into the firemen's nets, only to hit the sidewalk. The tragedy was a wake up moment for the government, much like The Jungle. -
The Great Migration Begins
The Great Migration was a mass relocation of 6 million African Americans from the South to the North. This response to oppression in the South, was possible because of the labor shortage in the North during World War I. The migrants shaped American culture, from music to sports. The most common response to their presence was still hostility. In these big cities that they had hoped would be refuges, it was still difficult to live the American dream. -
The Roaring Twenties Begin
After America's contribution in WWI, the economy began to boom as a result of their victory. The middle class became bigger than ever, and new wealth began to pop up everywhere. There was so much money going around, that people began spending like crazy on parties and mansions. It was almost a competition throughout the twenties to see who could throw the biggest and best parties. Art began to flourish again as well, and many criticize society's focus on wealth during this period. -
The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby was a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, following characters living in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on Long Island in 1922. The book deals with themes of the status quo, limits of the American dream, and the reckless pursuit of something greater. The book was not very popular until after World War 2, where its commentary on social classes resonated with the newly disillusioned society. The novel is now considered an essential American classic. -
I, Too by Langston Hughes
After the Civil War ended, former slaves still faced many problems. Many Americans still held prejudice against them, and refused to give them jobs. African-Americans faced discrimination as well, and had to use facilities of much lower quality than their white counterparts. Hughes wrote his poem in order to express his thoughts on his treatment. He claimed that even though he was treated poorly, the future was bright and he would not be stopped. This poem gave hope to other African-Americans. -
The Great Depression Hits America
The great depression ended the roaring twenties. Suddenly, the people that had been throwing parties every night, were stuck sleeping on park benches. People were starving and unable to find jobs. Throughout this period of time, many authors began to write about their experiences with being ripped out of paradise. and thrown into an urban wasteland. Stories with themes of disillusionment became much more popular, leading to a more cynical and judgemental society. -
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men was written to appeal those who feel lonely or have dreams for the future. The story has been challenged many times, due to its vulgarity, racial slurs, and promoting euthanasia. The theme of loneliness resonates with many readers, giving the novella a timeless aspect. The idea of well laid plans always going wrong is a crushing realization, but also a very important lesson for anyone who reads the story. -
Project Manhattan Begins
While World War 2 was raging in the background, the US began to lead an effort to make the ultimate weapon. The nuclear bombs they began to build could end countless lives in seconds. After the creation and drop of the bombs, many authors questioned the morality of the nuclear bombs, and whether or not the government had gone too far. Books such as The Dead Hand warned of the implications of making the bombs, and opened a discussion about the US's pursuit of war. -
America Enters World War 2
The biggest war to ever start had been raging in Europe for years. America was content with only supplying the Allies with guns, but not contributing military forces. However, the Japanese bombed the US navy base Pearl Harbor in order to stop the US's future involvement. However, this backfired and led to America uniting under their rage. The Americans began rationing everything and working in factories to produce war goods at stunning rates. The war would establish America as a world power. -
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
Even though this novel was banned from many schools in America, it still has a profound effect on our society. The main character Holden Caulfield is a teenage boy who views society as superficial and tiring. The novel has been linked to many crimes committed by those who think of Holden as a hero, hence part of its controversy. The shooting of John Lennon is linked to the novel very closely. Holden became popular because of his role of a disillusioned antihero, something not often seen yet. -
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 451 was one of the first popular Dystopian novels written in America. The novel focused on how the world would decline if citizens don't use their freedom and ability to learn. Bradbury stressed how important it is to learn for yourself instead of being told everything. Fahrenheit 451 works as a reminder, and likely plays a role in America's awareness towards government tyranny. -
United States Joins the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was costly and divisive for America. The US entered the war in order to prevent communism from spreading into South Vietnam. However, the war quickly became controversial. This was due to the atrocities that US troops committed while in Vietnam, as well as the sheer amount of American lives it cost. Young men were drafted and forced to fight in the war. Eventually the US pulled out, but the legacy of America's wasted efforts left a huge effect on future generations. -
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird explores the morality of human beings; whether people are good or evil. The novel answers this question through Scout and Jem’s transition from childhood innocence to an adult perspective, in which they have seen evil and must incorporate it into their lives. The book blew up due to its perspective on racism and guilt. Some schools have tried to ban it due to racial slurs and profanity. The novel is commonly considered an American classic about innocence. -
After Auschwitz by Anne Sexton
This poem was written to express Anne Sexton's anger towards the Nazi's actions. Sexton's poem portrays how many felt after World War 2. The returning soldiers brought horror stories of the torture they saw. America faced a long period of disillusionment after the war. Before then, the US's isolationism and booming economy made them forget that the world is harsh in reality. Many authors have used the story of the Nazis to reflect on human nature and whether humans are evil or not.
