U.S. Cultural Movements of Early 1800s

Neoclassical architecture A revival of Greek and Roman styles (“neo” means “new” in Greek) A revival of Greek and Roman styles (“neo” means “new” in Greek) The U.S. had modeled itself after the Roman Republic and the democratic ideals of ancient Greece, so it copied their architectural styles as well for its governmental buildings The U.S. had modeled itself after the Roman Republic and the democratic ideals of ancient Greece, so it copied their architectural styles as well for its governmental buildings Sometimes also called the “Federal” style Sometimes also called the “Federal” style

The White House The Executive Mansion was originally built 1792 – 1800 The Executive Mansion was originally built 1792 – 1800 Burned by the British during the War of 1812, but had been restored by 1817 (and painted white to hide the fire damage to the exterior, hence the name White House) Burned by the British during the War of 1812, but had been restored by 1817 (and painted white to hide the fire damage to the exterior, hence the name White House) Added onto in 1824, 1829, 1901, 1927, and 1946 Added onto in 1824, 1829, 1901, 1927, and 1946 In 1950s, the entire structure was gutted and rebuilt with a steel frame from the it was found to be collapsing In 1950s, the entire structure was gutted and rebuilt with a steel frame from the it was found to be collapsing

U.S. Capitol Built 1793 – 1811 Built 1793 – 1811 Also burned during the War of 1812, but had been restored by 1819 Also burned during the War of 1812, but had been restored by 1819 Expanded between 1826 and 1863; small dome was added but was soon replaced by the larger dome seen today Expanded between 1826 and 1863; small dome was added but was soon replaced by the larger dome seen today

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

Alexis de Tocqueville 1805 – – 1859 French author of Democracy in America (1835 – 1840) French author of Democracy in America (1835 – 1840) Toured the U.S. for 2 years observing how democracy was creating a uniquely “American” culture Toured the U.S. for 2 years observing how democracy was creating a uniquely “American” culture Determined America was a society where hard work and making money was what drove people, where commoners never deferred to their “betters”, and where individualism was admired Determined America was a society where hard work and making money was what drove people, where commoners never deferred to their “betters”, and where individualism was admired

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

Romanticism Early 19 th century artistic and literary movement that promoted emotions over logic and reason, inner spirituality over secular rules, the individual over society, and the natural world over man-made environments Early 19 th century artistic and literary movement that promoted emotions over logic and reason, inner spirituality over secular rules, the individual over society, and the natural world over man-made environments

The Hudson River School Group of American artists who focused on painting distinctly American landscapes – canyons, rivers, scenes of the wild, untamed frontiers (at first along the Hudson River, but later in the Rockies) Group of American artists who focused on painting distinctly American landscapes – canyons, rivers, scenes of the wild, untamed frontiers (at first along the Hudson River, but later in the Rockies) Style remained popular throughout the 1800s Style remained popular throughout the 1800s

Washington Irving 1783 – – 1859 Author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip van Winkle Author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip van Winkle Also a historian and biographer Also a historian and biographer Perfected the short story as a true literary art form; first major “American” author Perfected the short story as a true literary art form; first major “American” author

Edgar Allan Poe 1809 – – 1849 “Master of the Macabre” “Master of the Macabre” Wrote many poems and short- stories, mostly 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 Wrote many poems and short- stories, mostly 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 25 Married his 13 year-old cousin (he was 26) but she died at 25 Died at age 40 under mysterious circumstances Died at age 40 under mysterious circumstances

James Fenimore Cooper 1789 – – 1851 Author of The Last of the Mohicans Author of The Last of the Mohicans (1826) Wrote mostly about life on the American frontier and the conflict between white settlers and Native Americans Wrote mostly about life on the American frontier and the conflict between white settlers and Native Americans

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804 – – 1864 Author of The Scarlet Letter Author of The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of Seven Gables (1851) Wrote largely on man’s tendency to sin, resulting in his work being labeled “dark romanticism” Wrote largely on man’s tendency to sin, resulting in his work being labeled “dark romanticism”

Herman Melville 1819 – – 1891 Author of Moby Dick Author of Moby Dick (1851) Melville’s works were mainly adventure novels, often set on whaling ships Melville’s works were mainly adventure novels, often set on whaling ships While Melville did write several commercially successful novels during his lifetime, his most famous work today (Moby Dick) was neither a commercial nor critical hit at the time it was written While Melville did write several commercially successful novels during his lifetime, his most famous work today (Moby Dick) was neither a commercial nor critical hit at the time it was written

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Penny” Press Mass produced daily newspapers which became affordable for common people Mass produced daily newspapers which became affordable for common people Focused on reports of fires, crime reports, marriages, gossip, politics, local news 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 Covered poetry, literature, and art primarily from women artists Included dress patterns, sheet music Included dress patterns, sheet music First magazine to copyright its material to prevent other publications from using it First magazine to copyright its material to prevent other publications from using it

Atlantic Monthly 1857 – Today 1857 – Today Focused on literary and cultural trends Focused on literary and cultural trends Founded and run by famous writers of the time: Stowe, Emerson, Longfellow, etc. Founded and run by famous writers of the time: Stowe, Emerson, Longfellow, etc. Has published everyone from Mark Twain to Martin Luther King 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 Featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor Became famous for its political cartoons by Thomas Nast Became famous for its political cartoons by Thomas Nast