1. + Early American Writing 1600-1800

2. + 4 Questions of the Times Who owns the land? What makes an explorer? Are people basically good? Who has the right to rule?

3. + "Extraordinary experiences of ordinary people" 1 st colony = Jamestown 1607 By 1733, colonies all along Atlantic Settlers- Bradford and Wood complained about land being “desolate wilderness” FR & Indian War 1759-1763-> U.S. sent soldiers to help Britain v. France and Native Americans Taxes create division Ben Franklin, T. Jefferson, = Declaration, Constitution

4. + Cultural Influences Religion- focus of everything here Puritans sought to purify Church of England John Winthrop- “City on a Hill”- new order in America Valued hard work and responsibility = morally good Bad side = inflexible & intolerant (Witch trials)

5. + Ideas of the Age The Enlightenment 1700s = burst of intellectual energy in Europe Questioning of everything Pointed to gov’t for the people, by the people. Patrick Henry = “give me liberty or give me death!”

6. + The Great Awakening 1700’s- Worry about Puritan values being lost- religious revival Jonathan Edwards (preacher) – ppl. need to recommit, new wave of enthusiasm Called “First Great Awakening” United colonists 2 = opposites (Enlight & Awak), but same result = QUESTION AUTHORITY

7. + Puritan Writing Writing should be useful Logic, clarity needed Glorify God=Purpose Sermons- preaching of potential damnation Poetry- Glorify God and speak of family, marriage

8. + Puritan Tradition Writing = useful to them Helps to understand Bible Logic, clarity, reason = valued. Sermons & other writings Cotton Mather – witch trials Jonathan Edwards (both PUR) – sermons “Fire & Brimstone” Puritan poetry Anne Bradstreet Edward Taylor Deep faith, love of husband/kids, male-dominated

9. + Exploration & Early Settlers 1 st person accounts of travel Explorers – Christopher Columbus, vivid record 50 yrs later = Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, survivor of expedition. FR & Dutch = Samuel de Champlain Early settlers: letters, reports to friends/fam back home Colonial histories = less focus on descriptive, more on growth of colonies Capt. John Smith – VA & N. Eng William Bradford, John Winthrop Sr. Olaudah Equiano – captured f/African home (diff. viewpoint)

10. + Early American Lit – N. Amer Experience More than 300 diff. N.Am cultures w/diff customs, 200 lang’s No written language Oral traditions: stories Style: creation stories – how everything came to be, migration history, fairy tales, lyrics, chants, songs, etc. Many lost 90% of ppl

11. + Writers of the Revolution Pamphlets & Propaganda 1763-1783: 2,000 published Cause vs. Britain Common Sense by Thomas Paine T. Jefferson, pamphlets but his #1 = DEC of IND., natural law – ppl born w/rights & freedom B. Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, G. Washington Developed Constitution People: also non-politicians Former slave – Phillis Wheatley – poems/letters Abigail Adams (wife of John) – include rights of women