1. Realism: 1850- 1915

2. Slavery in America The south supported slavery Abe Lincoln was elected president in 1860 Lincoln was anti-slavery

3. Abolitionists wanted to ban slavery The "industrial" north wanted to abolish slavery Slavery in America

4. The civil war broke out: 1861-1865 North vs south Union vs confederacy (Blue vs Grey) "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe (famous novel about the horrors of slavery) Slavery in America

5. Industrial Revolution 1880's The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell Electricity was invented The phonograph was invented

6. Industrial Revolution The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney The framework for the first automobile was developed All of these inventions were important in the advancement of the U.S.

7. Population Between 1865-1914, 22 million people immigrated to the U.S., many through Ellis Island Westward expansion began because the cities in the east became overcrowded Life in the west (frontier life) was very harsh and primitive

8. Wealth in America There were very few wealthy people, they were called "The Captains of Industry" John D Rockefeller = oil Andrew Carnegie = steel J P Morgan = banking

9. Wealth in America Immigrants viewed America as the "Land of Opportunity" They believed that the streets in the US were "paved with gold," that everyone was rich, and they thought they could easily become rich as well

10. Wealth in America This idea led Mark Twain to term this time period "The Gilded Age" To gild = to cover something of poor quality with gold (gold-plated)

11. Women Could not vote Not treated equally Primary role was to be homemakers

12. Important Literary Movements The ideas of romanticism were abandoned for two reasons: The civil war was tragic Life on the frontier was difficult

13. Realism Focuses on real events and ordinary people Characters and events were portrayed in an objective (factual) way

14. Naturalism Developed from realism (focused on real events and ordinary people) but characters were portrayed as having no control over their own lives Lives controlled by environment, heredity and fate Writing was very negative (pessimistic)

15. Regionalism Focuses on areas of he U.S. Writers used "regional dialect" (different expressions) Used vivid descriptions of the landscape so people could visualize areas Most popular literary movement during this time because people were interested about different sections of the country they had never seen

16. Journal Topic: New Year "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one." - Brad Paisley What will your "book" be about?