The Romantic Period of American Literature “America is a land of wonders, in which everything is in constant motion and every change seems an improvement….No natural boundary seems to be set to the efforts of man; and in his eyes what is not yet done is only what he has not yet attempted to do,” Alexis de Tocqueville

Timeline of Events  1803 Louisiana Purchase extends nation’s territory to Rockies.  1804 Lewis and Clark begin exploring and mapping West.  1807 Fulton’s steamboat makes 1 st rip from NYC to Albany.  1812 US declares war on Great Britain; early battles are at sea.  1814 Bombardment of Fort McHenry – “The Star Spangled Banner”  1820 Missouri Compromise – No slavery in new territories  1825 Erie Canal success – canal building spurred throughout US  1837 Samuel Morse patents telegraph.  1838 Cherokee “Trail of Tears” – Georgia to Oklahoma  1846 Mexican War begins  1848 California Gold Rush begins  1848 Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, NY

Historical Background  In 1800, the US consisted of 16 states, all clustered on the east coast  L.P. doubled the size of the US  This rapid growth = national pride and self- awareness  Canals, turnpikes, and railroads boomed.  Steamboats and sailing packets helped speed people and goods to destinations.

Growth of Democracy at Home  Americans started to take more direct control of their government  1828 election of Andrew Jackson – the “People’s President”- ushered in the era of the common man.  Property requirements for voting began to be eliminated.  “Indian Removal” forced westward migration of Native Americans. 4,000 of 15,000 perished on “Trail of Tears”

How Others Saw Us  War of 1812 – score one for us  Monroe Doctrine of 1823 – warned us to stay out of Latin American issues – we took care of ourselves  1830s- We became involved in Texas’ succession from Mexico – Alamo – score one for them  Texas becomes part of the US in 1845 – resulted in war with Mexico from  Gold Rush brought 100s of 1000s to new land of promise.

American Literature Comes of Age Romanticism  Romanticism was an artistic movement that dominated Europe and America in the early 19 th century  Romantic writers elevated IMAGINATION over reason and INTUITION over fact  Romantics reveled in NATURE  Accented the fantastic aspects of human experience

Writers to Know  Washington Irving – Father of American Romanticism  Nathaniel Hawthorne – a dark Romantic  Edgar Allen Poe – a dark Romantic  Herman Melville – a dark Romantic  James Fennimore Cooper – creator of the Romantic hero