“American Literature and Art Movement” Power Point by Emma Steely

The First Bona Fide American Artists – Before the 19 th Century, most artists studied in Europe. These artists include Benjamin West, Charles Willson Peale, and Gilbert Stuart --- However, in the mid 19 th century, the Hudson River School was created for aspiring young artists. They painted pictures of- guess what- the Hudson River. Some of my artist homies include: Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, and my main man Robert S. Duchanson. They bridged the gap for all the American artists to come.

American Artists often used country folk as their inspiration. George Caleb Binghan was inspired by frontier life along the rivers – George Catlin used Indians of the Great Plains and Rockies as his muse – Alfred Jacob Miller decided to paint the Indians of the Great Plains and Rockies

First bullet point here Second bullet point here Third bullet point here Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poems based on events from the American past, such as “Paul Revere’s Ride” and “The Song of Hiawatha.” John Greenleaf Whittier Poems about the evils of slavery. Frances Watkins Harper Poems about the evils of slavery. Walt WhitmanLeaves of Grass, a book of poetry celebrating democracy and common people. Emily Dickinson Recognized as one of the nation’s greatest poets. Washington Irving The Sketch Book, including “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” With the growth of American writers, women began to jump into the writing world, taking it by storm.

Washington Irving Washington Irving, author, essay writer, and diplomat wrote Sleepy Hollow and The Devil and Tom Walker Louisa May Alcott Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Alcott is known for her novel, Little Women Group A Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 James Fenimore Cooper Set in our country’s past, The Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans, about a strong, solitary frontiersman. Mark Twain Born in 1835, this man is the author of Adventures of Tom Sawyer Nathaniel Hawthorne Stories set in early New England, such as The Scarlet Letter. Edgar Allan Poe Tales of Often called “father of the detective story” for his work, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” John Steinbeck Known for his novels Of Mice and Men and The Pearl

Trancendentalists believed that the most important truths in our lives were beyond human comprehension. They valued the fire that causes human life. They believed that each individual should live up to the divine possibilities within. Ralph Waldo Emerson had faith in the fact that civilization provides shallow wealth, but nature held the true form of happiness. He saw God through nature. He stressed individualism, or the importance of each individual. He believed that everyone has an inner light that guides them to help one another. Emerson had a light inside him that influenced other writers.

Henry David Thoreau Thoreau lived a simple life. He believed every individual had the right to chose what is right or wrong. If a law seemed unjust, Thoreau presumed one didn’t have to obey it. The act of disobeying an “unjust” law is called civil disobedience. Thoreau also believed the rise of industry would be the downfall of civilization. Herman Melville Herman Melville was born in 1819, and he wrote Moby Dick.

Popular Music Music on the piano and the pianoforte was common, however during the Westward Expansion mobile instruments became common, such as the washboard.