2. Revolutionary Literature Persuasive Literature And The American Revolution

3. 1775-1783 American colonists revolt against unfair taxation and laws and break from British rule When America breaks from British rule, authors no longer have publishers, audience, or legal protection and suffered during the first stages of rebuilding.

4. The American Revolution Cont... Patrick Henry, the most famous orator (speaker) of the American Revolution, delivered a fiery speech to convince delegates of the need for armed resistance. “Speech in the Virginia Convention” led to The Declaration of Independence” and life and freedoms as we know it today.

5. The Political Pamphlet The most common and popular type of literature Over 2,000 pamphlets were published during the Revolution The most famous one was Thomas Paine’s Common Sense that sold over 100,000 copies in its first 3 months of publication.

6. Powerful Persuasion Most literature was persuasive trying to get people to understand –The wrongdoings of the British Government –The politicians stands before elections –The status of the war –How America was to rebuild after the Revolution

7. Important Revolutionary Literature The most important pieces of literature: “Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry “The Declaration of Independence” drafted by Thomas Jefferson “What is an American” by Michael-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur

8. What is an American? One of the major hurdles after the Revolutionary War was trying to find an identity and defining what the term “American” means. We will read a section of “What is an American?” by Jean de Crevecoeur You will also write your own definition essay about your idea of what the term “American” means to you.