Introduction
The Colonial and Early National period is the foundation for all American literature ever produced. This journey begins all the way back with Native Americans and their perception of how the world was created and continues to early colonial America. Before any outside Europeans discovered the land, there were a group of Native American tribes who inhabited the land. Many of them wondered how the earth came to exist, so they created origin myths to answer this question. These stories were created by tribes such as the Onondaga, the Modoc, and the Navajo. The tribes passed down these stories through oral tradition, but they were eventually written down for all of us to enjoy and discover part of our history.
After Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, many other European explorers and immigrants were inspired to discover the new world. In order to continue traveling and discovering America, explorers needed to secure funding. Explorers like Cabeza de Vaca and Garcia Lopez de Cardenas wrote exploration narratives and autobiographies describing the new country and exaggerating its best features.
As America continued to develop, religion emerged. Puritans were the dominant religious group and believed in predestination, original sin, and living a non-selfish lifestyle. Their beliefs were often expressed through their poetry, which they viewed as another form of worship to God. Their simplistic worship writing became known as Puritan plain style which is the use of uncomplicated sentences and ordinary words are used to make simple, direct statements. They believed the direct staements made it easier for everyone to worship.
The period of Enlightenment spread to America. This was a period of relying on reason and logic and the ability to achieve perfection. Literature during this time included many speeches and biographies that supported the idea of logic. Colonies were created throughout the country and laws had to be created. Therefore, politics became a major role in the nation. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine, famous politicians, give us a new perspective of the time through their speeches, biographies, and essays. Their beliefs and ideas for the nation are embedded in their writing.
The Colonial and Early National period was crucial for the development of America. We can observe the literature evolving from origin myths describing the creation of the world to political pieces that set rules and ideas that the nation believes in. Even exploration narratives and Puritan poetry were crucial to the development of America. America was shaped based on these pieces of literature.
After Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, many other European explorers and immigrants were inspired to discover the new world. In order to continue traveling and discovering America, explorers needed to secure funding. Explorers like Cabeza de Vaca and Garcia Lopez de Cardenas wrote exploration narratives and autobiographies describing the new country and exaggerating its best features.
As America continued to develop, religion emerged. Puritans were the dominant religious group and believed in predestination, original sin, and living a non-selfish lifestyle. Their beliefs were often expressed through their poetry, which they viewed as another form of worship to God. Their simplistic worship writing became known as Puritan plain style which is the use of uncomplicated sentences and ordinary words are used to make simple, direct statements. They believed the direct staements made it easier for everyone to worship.
The period of Enlightenment spread to America. This was a period of relying on reason and logic and the ability to achieve perfection. Literature during this time included many speeches and biographies that supported the idea of logic. Colonies were created throughout the country and laws had to be created. Therefore, politics became a major role in the nation. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine, famous politicians, give us a new perspective of the time through their speeches, biographies, and essays. Their beliefs and ideas for the nation are embedded in their writing.
The Colonial and Early National period was crucial for the development of America. We can observe the literature evolving from origin myths describing the creation of the world to political pieces that set rules and ideas that the nation believes in. Even exploration narratives and Puritan poetry were crucial to the development of America. America was shaped based on these pieces of literature.
Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, was born April 13, 1743 at the Shadwell plantation located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. Jefferson was born into a prominent family of Virginia’s elite. His mother and father both had a great reputation. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, was a member of the Randolph clan, a family claiming descent from English and Scottish royalty. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a successful farmer and a skilled surveyor and cartographer who created the first accurate map of the Province of Virginia.
During his childhood, Jefferson’s favorite thing to do were to play in the woods, read, and practice the violin. He had a formal education and studied Latin and Greek at a local private school ran by the Reverend William Douglas. He continued his education, specifically in math and literature, with Reverend James Maury who he highly respected.
In 1760 Jefferson left home to go to college at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. After being there for a period of time, Jefferson realised that the academics were not challenging. His classmates often slacked off rather than studying. Jefferson was disappointed to figure this out so he began to associate with scholars like Professor William Small, Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier and lawyer George Wythe. He received his education from this respected scholars.
After three years of studying at William and Mary, Jefferson decided to pursue law and study under Wythe. Jefferson was challenged by Wythe through a tough five year course. Jefferson won admission to the Virginia bar in 1767 and was one of the most learned lawyers in America.
Jefferson continued to practice law in Virginia and was very successful, winning most of his cases. While practicing law in virginia, he fell in love with Martha Wayles Skelton and married her on January 1, 1772. The couple had six children together, but only Martha and Mary survived into adulthood.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the biggest supporters of American independence. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 led by Patrick Henry and George Washington. In 1774, Jefferson published his first major political work, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which established his reputation as one of the biggest supporters of the American cause. In 1775, Jefferson was invited to the Second Continental Congress which is where George Washington was appointed to lead the newly created Continental Army.
Jefferson was given the most important task to draft Congress’s most significant work. In June 1776, the Congress appointed Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to draft a Declaration of Independence. Congress specifically chose Jefferson to draft the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. The most beautiful and powerful document took Jefferson 17 days to draft. The Declaration was adopted July 4, 1776. It had been revised multiple times since the original draft, but the main message has remained the same, which is, “All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Jefferson returned to Virginia after finalizing the Declaration of Independence. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and his main goal was to modify Virginia’s laws so that they would line up with the ideas he presented in the Declaration.
Jefferson’s popularity grew exponentially and his political career continued to grow. After drafting the Declaration of Independence, he became the nation's first Secretary of State, was the second Vice President in the nation, and America’s third president. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826 which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His legacy continue to be the words America lives on.
During his childhood, Jefferson’s favorite thing to do were to play in the woods, read, and practice the violin. He had a formal education and studied Latin and Greek at a local private school ran by the Reverend William Douglas. He continued his education, specifically in math and literature, with Reverend James Maury who he highly respected.
In 1760 Jefferson left home to go to college at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. After being there for a period of time, Jefferson realised that the academics were not challenging. His classmates often slacked off rather than studying. Jefferson was disappointed to figure this out so he began to associate with scholars like Professor William Small, Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier and lawyer George Wythe. He received his education from this respected scholars.
After three years of studying at William and Mary, Jefferson decided to pursue law and study under Wythe. Jefferson was challenged by Wythe through a tough five year course. Jefferson won admission to the Virginia bar in 1767 and was one of the most learned lawyers in America.
Jefferson continued to practice law in Virginia and was very successful, winning most of his cases. While practicing law in virginia, he fell in love with Martha Wayles Skelton and married her on January 1, 1772. The couple had six children together, but only Martha and Mary survived into adulthood.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the biggest supporters of American independence. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 led by Patrick Henry and George Washington. In 1774, Jefferson published his first major political work, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which established his reputation as one of the biggest supporters of the American cause. In 1775, Jefferson was invited to the Second Continental Congress which is where George Washington was appointed to lead the newly created Continental Army.
Jefferson was given the most important task to draft Congress’s most significant work. In June 1776, the Congress appointed Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to draft a Declaration of Independence. Congress specifically chose Jefferson to draft the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. The most beautiful and powerful document took Jefferson 17 days to draft. The Declaration was adopted July 4, 1776. It had been revised multiple times since the original draft, but the main message has remained the same, which is, “All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Jefferson returned to Virginia after finalizing the Declaration of Independence. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and his main goal was to modify Virginia’s laws so that they would line up with the ideas he presented in the Declaration.
Jefferson’s popularity grew exponentially and his political career continued to grow. After drafting the Declaration of Independence, he became the nation's first Secretary of State, was the second Vice President in the nation, and America’s third president. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826 which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His legacy continue to be the words America lives on.
Timeline
KeY AUTHORS
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The Onondaga- "The Earth on Turtles Back"
The Modoc- "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
The Navajo- The Navajo Origin Legend
Cabeza de Vaca- A Journey through Texas
Garcia Lopez de Cardenas- Boulders Taller Than the Great Tower of Seville
Edward Taylor- "Huswifery"
Anne Bradstreet- "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
Jonathan Edwards- Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God
Benjamin Franklin- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanack, and "Speech in the Conventions"
Oladuh Equine- The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Oladuh Equine
Thomas Jefferson- The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine- The Crisis
Phillis Wheatley- "To his Excellency, General Washington"
Patrick Henry- "Speech in the Virginia Convention""
The Modoc- "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
The Navajo- The Navajo Origin Legend
Cabeza de Vaca- A Journey through Texas
Garcia Lopez de Cardenas- Boulders Taller Than the Great Tower of Seville
Edward Taylor- "Huswifery"
Anne Bradstreet- "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
Jonathan Edwards- Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God
Benjamin Franklin- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanack, and "Speech in the Conventions"
Oladuh Equine- The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Oladuh Equine
Thomas Jefferson- The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine- The Crisis
Phillis Wheatley- "To his Excellency, General Washington"
Patrick Henry- "Speech in the Virginia Convention""
"The Earth on Turtles Back" short film
Themes
The overall theme of literature in the Colonial and Early National period is the creation of a new nation. Litrerature revovled around the theme of discovery. The central theme of Origin Myths of Native Americans were creativity and nature. Exploration naratives had the common theme of discovery and a reverance for nature. Glorifying God and expressing religion were the prinicple themes of Puritan poetry and sermons. The primary theme of political works and themes during this time were liberty, unity, and freedom for all. All of these key themes are summed up and catogorized into the main theme of Colonial and National period: the creation of a new nation.
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"Thomas Jefferson." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 15 Feb. 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.