Early American History and Exploration

The Conception of the American Landscape

• Amerigo Vespucci identified America as a new continent, not Christopher Columbus.
• The Vikings were the first white people to set foot on the American continent, but they did not conceive the idea of America.
• The British, specifically the Puritans and the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, first set foot on the American continent and formed the idea of America.

The Puritan and Pilgrim Experience

• The Puritans and Pilgrims faced struggles regarding their identity, location, and purpose, which is reflected in early American literature.
• The period from 1607 to 1775 is known as the Colonial Period.

Colonial Settlements

• The Puritans settled on the continent and formed colonies in what would become the United States.
• Notable works from this period include Columbus's letters and William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation".
• Benjamin Franklin and Anne Bradstreet were notable writers during this time.
• Phillis Wheatley, an American teenage black slave, emerged as an important writer, offering early insights into racial struggles in America.

The Revolutionary and Golden Ages of American Literature

• The Revolutionary Period (1764-1790) is recognized for its pivotal role in shaping American literature.
• The Early National Period (1775-1828) marks the beginning of what is now called American literature.
• The Romantic Period or Transcendentalism (1828-1865) saw the rise of romanticism in America, which took a unique turn compared to its European counterpart.
• Notable works from this period include Thoreau's "Walden", Walt Whitman's poetry, and Edgar Allan Poe's essay "The Poetic Principle".

Realism and Naturalism

• The Realism Period (1865-1900) focused on depicting everyday life and society with a more realistic approach.
• The Naturalism Period (1900-1940) continued to build on the foundations laid by realism but with a more intense focus on the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior.

Modernism and Post-Modernism

• The Modernist Period (1914-1945) was marked by significant changes in literary styles and themes, with a focus on breaking traditional forms and experimenting with new techniques.
• The Post-War Period (1945-1960s) is usually called the Post-Modern Period, although there is much disagreement about its exact boundaries.

Henry VIII and the Church of England

• Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he wrote a letter to the Pope seeking permission.
• The Pope denied his request, leading Henry to start his own church, establishing the Church of England and breaking all ties with the Catholic Church.

Protestantism and Puritan Ideology

• Protestants do not follow the Catholic Church's authority, so every scripture from that time up until today becomes a source of divine communication.
• In Puritan ideology, everyone has a personal covenant with God, with no mediator. Individualism is fundamental; the individual is the best source of understanding divine influence.

Pilgrims and Puritans in America

• Puritans favored reforms in the Church of England and tried to enforce these reforms, but their efforts ended in disaster.
• In 1630, Puritans left England and formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.

Early American Texts

• The first texts produced in relation to America were called the Narratives of Discovery.
• Important works include John Smith's "The General History of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles" and Native American texts.

American Identity and Literature

• French-American writer John de Crèvecœur's book "Letters from an American Farmer" asked, "What is an American?"
• Washington Irving's novel "Rip Van Winkle" is considered the first major literary work of America.

Literary Traditions and Influences

• Early American literature was influenced by European works such as Beowulf, knight romances, Dante's "Divine Comedy", and "The Canterbury Tales".
• Native American oral cultures and texts also influenced American literature.

Native American Cultures

• Native American oral cultures and texts did not view war as glorious, unlike European cultures.
• The image of women in Native American cultures was also different from European perceptions.

Slavery and Its Impact

• The native population was estimated to be between 50 to 100 million, but after 50 years, this number dropped to 3 to 5 million due to diseases, slavery, and torture brought by Europeans.
• The first slave rebellion in America was by eight African Muslims who killed nine Spaniards in Mexico.

Learn about the discovery and conception of America, including the roles of Amerigo Vespucci, the Vikings, and the British. This quiz covers the experiences of the Puritans and Pilgrims and their struggles in the New World.