The Revolutionary Period in American literature, also known as the American Enlightenment, was a time of great intellectual and cultural growth in the newly independent United States. This period, which roughly spans from the mid-18th to the early 19th century, saw the emergence of a distinct American literary tradition and the development of a uniquely American voice in literature.
One of the most influential writers of the Revolutionary Period was Benjamin Franklin, who is best known for his contributions to science and politics, but also wrote extensively on a variety of topics including literature, education, and morality. Franklin's writing was notable for its wit, humor, and practical wisdom, and he is considered one of the founders of the American Enlightenment.
Another notable figure of the Revolutionary Period was Thomas Paine, whose pamphlet "Common Sense" was a galvanizing force in the American Revolution. Paine's writing was notable for its clear and persuasive style, and he is credited with helping to shape the political and intellectual climate of the time.
The Revolutionary Period also saw the emergence of the first American novel, "The Power of Sympathy" by William Hill Brown, which was published in 1789. This novel was notable for its exploration of themes of love, jealousy, and betrayal, and is considered an important precursor to the modern novel.
In addition to these major figures, the Revolutionary Period also saw the rise of many other important writers and thinkers, including John Adams, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson, who all contributed significantly to the development of American literature and culture.
Overall, the Revolutionary Period was a time of great intellectual and cultural growth in the United States, and it laid the foundation for the rich literary tradition that has flourished in the country to this day. The writers and thinkers of this period helped to shape the American identity and provide a unique and enduring voice in the world of literature.
Important Writings from the U.S. Revolutionary Period
Author David Hawke offered an example of the American literary style in The Colonial Experience. These contradictory impulses can be found swirling within A sense of disillusionment and loss pervades much American modernist fiction. Literature and the Arts in the Revolutionary Era By the time of the Blue-Backed Speller, published in 1783, helped to standardize the new American version of English. Philadelphia, New York, and Charleston became magnets for playwrights, who modeled their works largely after those of neoclassical English dramatists Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. For the Deist, the world is no longer God-centered, but human-centered. There was much resistance to the law, which led to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which designated even more severe punishments for those interfering with the capture of slaves. Library of Congress, Washington, D.
Reason & Revolution
And the hated One of the most popular forms of political writing was satire, especially plays, essays, and poems. Patriotic writings came in many varieties. Human and political folly- theme for writers 5. With subjects ranging from his views on exploration, freedom, and democracy to ruminations on friends, family, books, and gardening,Thomas Jefferson: In His Own Wordsoffers fascinating insight into this great man. Thomas Paine championed an absolute break with England in his revolutionary tract Common Sense 1776. Clarity, precision and grace prose The Declaration 5. Covering more than 160 subjects areas, ProQuest Central is the largest aggregated database of periodical content.
Literature (Revolutionary Era)
Arguments for separation from England. Jonathan Boucher 1738—1804 , an English clergyman and Loyalist writer who spent sixteen years in the colonies, fled to England in 1775. They pleased their wealthy customers by imitating successful European styles, often producing portraits of rich colonials posed as they might have been in an English portrait. John Dickinson , Dickinson, John Politician, lawyer, writer, soldier John Dickinson helped guide American public opinion in the years before the American Revolution. Focusing on the personal side of Jefferson, this wonderful collection explores his ideas and legacy through his letters and writings.