1. A Troubled Nation
American Literature

2. Nations, Regions, & Borders
Postbellum America

3. Making of Americans Immigration Urban Growth Child Labor
Westward Expansion
Slavery after the Civil War
Changing Role of Women
Distribution of Wealth
Broken Treaties
Individualism continues as people pursue liberty in various forms.
All are centered around a struggle to become an American and the loss of identity to form a new America
Leaders debated political and economic rights of freed slaves and the role of federal power.
In 1868, the 14th amendment was passed granting full citizenship to all persons born in the US
In 1870, the 15th amendement gave all males the right to vote.
Reconstruction ended in 1877 when all troops were removed from the South.
The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, allowing westward expansion and travel easier
Crowded cities pushed immigrants west to seek a better life, as did the desire for silver and gold.
Poor relationships developed with Native Americans as they were pushed from their land during expansion and treaties were broken.
Native Americans did not gain full citizenship until 1924.
By 1877, many new millionaire industrialists developed in the areas of meatpacking, railroad, and oil and steel production.
26 million immigrants arrived in the US between the end of the Civil War and 1900.
The urban population grew from 6 to 44 million between 1860 and 1910
After the abolition of slavery, reform turned to women’s rights.

4. Regionalness The unique cultural contexts of the production of a text
Gender vs. geography, race vs. class
Women vs. men
Area
Black vs. white vs. Native America
Low Class vs. High Class
Regional writers portray a particular place, writing about its landscape, people, values, and lifestyle. Regionalists explore issues that are common to all people, but they do so by writing about a certain time and place.
Dialect is a version of a language spoken by the people of a particular place, time, or social group, which also displays the regionalism of a text.

5. Author’s Craft Political philosophy Rhetorical purpose Audience Tone
Diction
Structure
Author’s craft is the general term used to describe the devices an author uses to skillfully tell a story. These include point of view, word choice, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, simile and metaphors. Authors use these devices to make a piece of writing effective and clear, engaging and interesting to the reader.

6. Essential Questions to Consider
What is an American?
In 1895?
Now?
What is the American Dream?
What themes are apparent during this time period?
Freedom
The American Dream
Racism
Regionalism
Survival
Individual vs. Society
What is the inspiration for fictional characters?