DEMOCRATIC ORIGINS AND REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS (1776-1820)

The American Revolution against Britain (1775-1783) was the first modern war of liberation against
a colonial power. The triumph of American independence seemed to many at the time a divine sign
that America and her people were destined for greatness. Military victory fanned nationalistic hopes
for a great new literature. Yet with the exception of outstanding political writing, few works of note
appeared during or soon after the Revolution.

Influential Factors

 Movement marked by emphasis on rationality, scientific inquiry and representative

government. Common thought that America and its people were destined for greatness
because of the triumph of American independence.
 With the exception of outstanding political writing, however, few works of note appeared
during or soon after the Revolution.
 Because we were a brand new country. Cultural revolutions cannot be successfully imposed,
but must grow from shared experience.
 American cultural independence would have to be earned over the next 50 years before the
first generation of American writers could be produced.

Challenges

America’s literary independence was slowed because:

 There was a lingering identification with England – colonial writers of the revolutionary
generation had been born English, so they associated and related to British customs / ideas.
 The challenges of building a new nation attracted talented and educated people to politics,
law and diplomacy – writing did not pay.
 Difficult economic and political conditions hampered publishing: until 1825, most American
authors paid printers to publish their work.
 There was the lack of an audience – European authors were well-known and preferred, so
American writers struggled to gain an audience.
 There was an absence of adequate copyright laws. Piracy, which was allowed in the
copyright law of 1790, reached its highest point in 1815, corresponding with the lowest
point of American writing.

Political Pamphlets

 Most popular form of political literature of the day.

 Over 2,000 pamphlets were published during the Revolution.
 Filled the role of drama, as they were often read aloud in public to excite audiences.
 Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” sold over 100,000 copies in the first 3 months of its
publication.

American Books

Were harshly reviewed in England. Americans were painfully aware of their excessive
dependence on English literary models. The search for a native literature became a national
obsession. As one American magazine editor wrote, around 1816, "Dependence is a state of
degradation fraught with disgrace, and to be dependent on a foreign mind for what we can
ourselves produce is to add to the crime of indolence the weakness of stupidity."
The American Enlightenment

The 18th-century American Enlightenment was a movement marked by an emphasis on rationality

rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and
representative government in place of monarchy. Enlightenment thinkers and writers were devoted
to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man.

Authors

1. Thomas Jefferson: (1743–1826) “Declaration of Declaration of Independence

Independence”
Thomas Jefferson is famous for writing the “All government power comes from the
Declaration of Independence and for being the third people
president of the United States. Jefferson had many King had trampled the peoples’ natural
other interests and identities. He loved architecture rights.
and designed his own house. He loved science and Colonists now had the right to rebel…”
studied the natural world. He was a plantation By: Thomas Jefferson
owner. He was a father and grandfather to his large
family. Jefferson lived a very long and full life.

2. Thomas Paine: (1737-1809) “Age of Reason”; “Common Sense”; “Crisis Papers”

Thomas Paine was an influential 18th-century writer of essays and pamphlets. Among them
were "The Age of Reason," regarding the place of religion in society; "Rights of Man," a piece
defending the French Revolution; and "Common Sense," which was published during the
American Revolution. "Common Sense," Paine's most influential piece, brought his ideas to
a vast audience, swaying (the otherwise undecided) public opinion to the view that
independence from the British was a necessity.

3. Benjamin Franklin: (1706-1790) “The Autobiography”, “Poor Richard’s Almanack”

Benjamin Franklin was America’s scientist, inventor, politician, philanthropist and business
man. He is best known as one of our Founding Fathers and the only one who signed all three
documents that freed America from Britain: The Declaration of Independence. The
American Constitution and The Treaty of Paris.

4. Patrick Henry: “Speech at Virginia Convention”

Patrick Henry was a brilliant orator and a major figure of the American Revolution, perhaps
best known for his words "Give me liberty or give me death!"

5. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur: “Letters from an American Farmer”

6. Noah Webster: “American Dictionary”
7. Phyllis Wheatley: “To S.M., A Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works” ; “On Being
Brought from Africa to America”

Types of Literature

Focus on:

 Political Writing (nonfiction)  Pamphlets

 Autobiography  Almanack
 Speeches  Declarations Poems