American Literature: Antebellum Era and Independence

Antebellum Era: Maturity and Independence

• American literature shows first signs of maturity and independence during this period, marked by definable ideas, philosophy, and connotation.

Perceived Inferiority and the American Renaissance

• American writers were overshadowed by English literature, seen as lacking original ideas and merely exploring existing English ideas.
• The term "American Renaissance" was coined by Matthiessen in 1941, reviewing notable works such as "The Scarlet Letter", "Moby-Dick", and "Leaves of Grass".
• However, Matthiessen's book is problematic, excluding female and African American writers, focusing only on Massachusetts and New York, and ignoring significant social and political issues.

Nationalism and Identity Formation

• This era was characterized by nationalism, with Revolutionary writers shaping American identity through epic poems like "Conquest of Canaan" and "The Columbiad".
• The rise of Napoleon in Europe and the Mexican revolutions influenced American identity, highlighting the fragility of democracy and the importance of clinging to values.
• The War of 1812 further bolstered American nationalism, making Andrew Jackson a "mythological hero of the republic".

Literary Independence and Criticism

• Magazines like "North American Review" emerged, promoting the idea that America needed its own literature.
• Writers debated the originality of American literature, with some emphasizing the need for independent literature.
• British critics often belittled American literary efforts, questioning the relevance of American books.

Evolution of Literary Dialogue

• By the 1820s, American writers stopped responding to English monarchy values and began a dialogue about American versus English identity.
• Writers aimed to abandon old world ideas and focus on the new continent's pure landscape, later using it as a symbol of American identity.

Challenges and Changes in the Literary Market

• The lack of copyright law in the US until 1891 hindered American writers from making a living through their writing.
• Mass book production and urbanization led to the emergence of social classes, and the expansion of the US made travel books popular.
• Immigration and Social Reform
• The influx of Chinese and Irish immigrants raised urban populations, creating antagonism between established Americans and immigrants.

Immigration and Social Reform

• Women's participation in the literary market was controversial, with some fearing imaginative literature would harm women's minds.
• Key reform movements of this period included the abolitionist, temperance, and anti-Catholicism movements.

Key Figures and Movements

• Emerson emerged as a prominent intellectual, supporting abolition and temperance.
• Transcendentalism emphasized the mind's creative power and forming an individual connection with a higher power, with key figures including Fuller, Thoreau, Whitman, and Emerson.

Women's Rights and Social Issues

• The first women's rights convention in 1848 in Seneca Falls saw speeches from Fuller and Stanton, with Emerson as the keynote speaker.
• Stanton's Declaration of Sentiments mirrored the Declaration of Independence, highlighting gender inequality.
• The paradox of the American Revolution involved Indian genocide, slavery, and foreign wars, conflicting with freedom values.