U.S. Cultural Movements of Early 1800s

Neoclassical architecture Revival of Greek and Roman styles US modeled itself after the Roman Republic and the democratic ideals of ancient Greece Sometimes called the “Federal” style in the US

The White House Built 1792 – 1800 Burned during War of 1812, but restored by 1817 Built onto in 1824, 1829, 1901, 1927, and 1946 In 1950s, entire structure was rebuilt with a steel frame from the inside, out when it was found to be collapsing!

US Capitol Built 1793 – 1811 Burned during War of 1812, but restored by 1819 Expanded between 1826 and 1863; small dome was added but soon replaced by the larger dome seen today

Monticello Built 1768 – 1809 Charlottesville, VA Home of Thomas Jefferson – he designed it himself Today, it is the only private home designated as a World Heritage Site by the UN

Alexis de Tocqueville 1805 – 1859 French Author of Democracy in America Toured US for 2 years observing how democracy was creating a uniquely “American” culture Determined America was a society where hard work and money-making was what drove people, where commoners never deferred to their “betters”, and where individualism was admired

Noah Webster 1758 – 1843 Published his first dictionary in 1806 In 1826, published his “American” dictionary where he provided new American spellings of English words and included thousands of distinctly American words

Romanticism Artistic and literary movement that advocated feeling over reason, inner spirituality over external rules, individual over society, and nature over human-made environments

Hudson River School of Artists American artists who focused on painting distinctly American landscapes – canyons, rivers, scenes of wild, untamed frontiers Popular throughout 1800s

Washington Irving 1783 – 1859 Wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip van Winkle Usually wrote under a pseudonym Perfected the short story as a true literary artform 10

Edgar Allan Poe 1809 – 1849 “Master of the Macabre” Wrote many poems and short-stories in the horror genre: The Raven, The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Tell-Tale Heart Married his 13 year-old cousin (he was 26) but she died at 15 Died of unknown causes (known to drink heavily) 11

James Fenimore Cooper 1789 – 1851 Wrote The Last of the Mohicans Wrote mostly about the frontier and relations between white settlers and Native Americans 12

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804 – 1864 Wrote The Scarlet Letter Wrote largely on man’s tendency to sin, resulting in his work being called “dark romanticism” 13

Herman Melville 1819 – 1891 Wrote Moby Dick One of the only Romantic authors to not be very popular during his own lifetime 14

Walt Whitman 1819 – 1892 Free Verse Poet Best known for his work Leaves of Grass Works described as obscene in his own time because of sexual frankness, homosexual themes

Emily Dickinson 1830 – 1886 American poet Wrote thousands of poems Obsessed with death Broke rules of poetry concerning structure, rhyme, and capitalization Famous recluse – did not leave her home for the last 30 years of her life 16

Transcendentalism Literary and philosophical movement Emphasized individualism and self-reliance over religion People need to “transcend” (overcome) the limits of their mind to embrace beauty and truth Hated conformity and “followers”

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803 – 1882 Philosopher, lecturer, essayist, and poet Believed that all things were divine because all things were connected to God Strong belief in individualism

Henry David Thoreau 1817 – 1862 Author of Walden and Civil Disobedience Early environmentalist Abolitionist “That government is best which governs not at all” Opposed taxes

Margaret Fuller 1810 – 1850 Author Woman in the Nineteenth Century – first major feminist work published in US Believed in women’s rights to education and employment; wanted prison reform and an end to slavery Died in a shipwreck

“Penny” Press Mass produced daily newspapers which became affordable for common people Focused on reports of fires, crime reports, marriages, gossip, politics, local news

Godey’s Lady’s Weekly 1830 – 1898 Covered poetry, literature, and art primarily from women artists Included dress patterns, sheet music First magazine to copyright its material to prevent other publications from using it

Atlantic Monthly 1857 – Today Focused on literary and cultural trends Founded and run by famous writers of the time: Stowe, Emerson, Longfellow, etc. Has published everyone from Mark Twain to Martin Luther King

Harper’s Weekly 1857 – 1916 Featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor Became famous for its political cartoons by Thomas Nast