Incidents of Individual action during the time period (1776-1820) that brought about significant change.
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James Fenimore Cooper
Cooper wrote a series of novels known as the "Leather-Stocking Tales" which brought life to the frontier America from 1740-1804. It reveals a deep tension between the individual and its society along with its nature and culture. It makes comparisons to the natural world. It also portrays the waves of frontier settlement. He created American settings and characters and applied them to his writings. -
Phillis Wheatley
From 1753-1784, Wheatley was a very inspiring poet. She was well known for being a slave woman, and one of the first African-American author of America at the time. Her writings reflect the hard times in America at the time, and very often include religious themes. It confronts the white racism that went on and asserted spiritual equality. She was really the first person to confront these problems in her writings and it really painted a picture of what was going on and the problems that occured. -
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine during this time wrote a phamplet called Common Sense. In the first few months that it was released, he had sold over 100,000 copies. This phamplet really voiced the idea of America exceptionalism and was a leading political piece that inspired many Americans. It was a fundamental piece of writing during this time. -
Abigail Adams
In 1776, Abigail Adams was persistent with her husband John Adams on women's independance in the future U.S. Constitution. She wrote letters and was a very inspirational figure for women at the time. This went to show that women were willing to fight for their rights, and can be relatable to America's will to fight for their freedom and independance. -
Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur
This was an enlightenment leader whose writings known as "Letters from an American Farmer" in 1782 allowed for ideas of peace, wealth, and pride in America. Hector prasied the colonies and was very inspired by the growing colonies. In these letters he describes America as a paradise. These letters later inspired many other famous leaders of the time such as Jefferson. -
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin helped to draftf the the U.S Constitution. He promoted education and was the president of an anti-slavery association. -
Philip Freneau
Thoman Jefferson assisted Philip in creating the anti-federaslists "National Gazette" in 1791. Freneau became the first powerful newspaper editor in America at the time. He was known for his democratic ideas. In his publishings he celebrated American subjects. -
Hugh Henry Brackenridge
In 1792-1815 Brackennridge released a novel called "Modern Chivalry" which was a memorble piece to all of the excesses of the time period. This was a great reflection on the past. -
Charles Brockden Brown
In this one year, Brown wrote 3 novels known as "Mervyn" "Ormand" and "Edgar Huntley." Brown came up with the genre of American Gothic. These novels were popular for its suspense. One of the most professional American writers of the time, his pieces were inspiring. Brown was a man of ideas and theories that he used writings to get his message through. He was a very powerful write, portraying many scientific theories. -
Washington Irving
Irving released his "Sketch Book" in 1819-1820 which was a piece of writing that contained stories Irving told in a creative way and had emotional effects. American readers who read Irvings piece liked the fact that he applied history to his writings. He gave Americans an imaginative way to relate to the new land. He allowed there to be a satisfying way of seeing the nations history.
