The American Revolution

The American Revolution took place from 1765-1783 and was fought between Great Britain and their American colonies. The war started due to growing tensions concerning Great Britain’s strict control over their colonies and the colonists’ desire to break away from the motherland to create their own government and laws. Many colonists of this time did not agree with the laws that the king, who was ruling them from across the ocean, was forcing them to adhere to. These laws were especially unpopular in Massachusetts, where there was much upheaval displayed by the colonists. By the end of the war, the colonists were able to win their freedom from Britain and became the United States of America (“Prelude”).

The revolution not only won America its freedom, but it also inspired a new generation of writers who began writing in the American Romanticism genre. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow became one of these writers during his lifetime and was famous for publishing the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” in 1860. This poem sheds a light on the courageous actions of Paul Revere on the night that he warned the American army of the British army’s impending attack. Longfellow specifically commemorates the bravery of everyday American citizens, like Revere, for taking action during the war and for being involved in the cause (“Henry”). Acts like these, in addition to winning a war that granted Americans freedom from Britain, instilled a value of freedom into the American people, which could be seen through the democratic spirit that they carried with them following the war. This demeanor of liberty was also intertwined with the popular writing of this time, which fell under the category of American Romanticism (Wolf). This genre of literature truly captured the American spirit of freedom, democracy, and even nature, as authors commonly showed their appreciation for natural beauty. This is notably observed in Longfellow’s poetry, not only within “Paul Revere’s Ride,” but also within “A Psalm of Life,” where Longfellow disputes what the church thinks about the true meaning of life. His proclamation that life should be lived wholeheartedly and without fear of death goes against what some in the church thought at the time. But since he was writing within the American Romanticism genre, the freedom that he had to disagree with the church shines through in his work. It is also important to note that Longfellow lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the majority of his life and was undoubtedly inspired by the rebel spirit that was embodied here during the revolution. Therefore, his poems reflect both the time period and area in which he lived, following the American Revolution.

 Works Cited

“Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/henry-wadsworth-longfellow. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.

“Prelude to War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution/Prelude-to-war. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.

Wolf, Kaitlyn. “American Romanticism Overview.” Literary Landscapes, 26 Apr. 2019, adhc.lib.ua.edu/site/literarylandscapes/american-romanticism-overview/.

Charles Darwin's "Evolution"

Charles Darwin, born in 1809, was the top English biologist behind our modern theory of evolution and natural selection (Charles Dawrin). Growing up, Darwin was one of five children raised in the wealthy Darwin-Wedgewood family and an avid follower of Unitarianism. This religion related God and nature as one power rather than two separate ideas. Darwin was intrigued by the earth and its creations for as long as he had been attending church with his family. Separated from his classmates, Darwin spent most of his adolescent years researching the world around him through scholarly journals and self-instructed observations.

After graduating from Christ College, in Cambridge, Darwin’s father funded him to travel on an intended two-year voyage with other geologists (Desmond). Darwin’s’ unexpected 1831 to 1836 voyage on HMS Beagle led to extensive research and data that proved all species evolved from each other, making no one animal higher than another. The same year that Darwin returned from his ground breaking voyage, transcendentalist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson published his original writing of "Nature". It was in this piece of writing that Darwin found himself more curious about his findings from the galopogoes islands. Although Charles Darwin was European, he was intrigued by Emerson's idealogies for America. After his five-year voyage, Darwin spent the following years justifying his findings and officially publishing his world-renowned book, “On the Origin of Species”. This books includes all aspects of science and biblical creation as well as facts to back his argument on evolution.

Works Cited

“Charles Darwin.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Feb. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#.

Desmond, Adrian. “The Beagle Voyage of Charles Darwin.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin/The-Beagle-voyage. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.

Women's Suffrage Movement

The women's suffrage movement was a determined effort in the United States to secure voting rights for women and promote gender equality. Beginning in the mid-19th century and lasting several decades, it involved diverse strategies like lobbying, protests, and legal battles. Despite facing significant opposition and challenges, activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and others persisted. The movement's culmination came with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote. While a landmark achievement, it's essential to recognize that the struggle for suffrage wasn't universal, and racial discrimination persisted. Nonetheless, the movement remains a powerful symbol of resilience and progress in the fight for equal rights. The Women's Suffrage Movement was a very powerful and influential time in history and impacted many lives, including Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Kate Chopin. The Women's Suffrage Movement impacted Charlotte Perkins as in 1898 Perkins published a manifesto called Women and Economics. According to the article "Charlotte Perkins" in Encyclopædia Britannica, it states, "Called for economic independence for women, she dissected with keen intelligence much of the romanticized convention surrounding ideas of womanhood and motherhood". In short, this manifesto emphasized that the ideals of women brought on my society and men were just that, ideals. The aspect of "Gender Roles" was unnecessary, men did not have to work and women did not have to take care of the children and household. The roles could switch, or men and women could do both. Perkins also goes into detail about women's need for accessible education. Perkins did a good job of critiquing the prevalent notion of one's genitalia depicting what their future holds and standing up for gender equality. Perkin's beliefs on gender equality lead her to become an activist during the movement and long after, as well as influencing her literary works. The Women's Suffrage Movement also influenced Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin is depicted as a woman who, "would write about her feelings. She felt that women had a sexual appetite and deserved independence" (Teen Ink). Due to her "taboo" writing style during her time, her works especially The Awakening, "Was roundly condemned in its time because of its sexual frankness and its portrayal of an interracial marriage and went out of print for more than 50 years" (Encyclopædia Britannica). Kate Chopin has stated that she was, "neither a feminist nor a suffragist, she said so" states the article, Kate Chopin: A Re-awakening - Interviews - PBS. This statement states that she never considered herself to be one or the other however, "she was nonetheless a woman who took women extremely seriously. She never doubted women's ability to be strong" (Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening - Interviews - PBS). This is significant as it represents Kate's acknowledgment of women being strong and independent figures within society. Chopin's literary work The Awakening highlights her views on how women should be able to be upfront with their sexuality, be who they are, and want who they want. It may not be as impactful as being an activist, but her literary pieces act as a form of activism for women every, afraid to be who they are. Overall, learning this information about both of the women gave me a narrower understanding of who they were as people. I strongly believe that Chopin had to have been a suffragist or feminist due to her book, but I believe she did not like having labels, she just wanted to be Kate Chopin. Understanding Perkin's background revolving around her birth and troubling marriage, her short The Yellow Wallpaper does make a lot more sense now. I understand more that during that time they had no idea what post-partum depression is, nor any knowledge of how to treat it. Therefore, being locked in a room by your husband or friends/family and being considered "crazy" because of a massive amount of hormones running through your body, can damage one's mental health; more than you would believe. I think these two authors bring impactful ideas and beliefs into light through their literary works, whether they are activists or not.

 Works Cited

"Anonymous" Teen Ink, www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/629426/Kate-Chopin-and-the-W.... Accessed 1 May 2024.

“Charlotte Perkins Gilman.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 6 Mar. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Charlotte-Perkins-Gilman.

“Kate Chopin.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 4 Feb. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Kate-Chopin.

“Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening - Interviews.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/katechopin/interviews.html#:~:text=On%20Chopin%20and%20femin.... Accessed 1 May 2024.

“Women’s Rights National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/wori/index.htm. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

“Women’s Suffrage - the U.S. Movement, Leaders & 19th Amendment.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

“Women’s Suffrage in the United States.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_the_United_States. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024

Reconstruction Era

Reconstruction

The American Reconstruction Era (1863-1877) was a period that predominantly followed the Civil War and focused on the rebuilding of the nation's infrastructure and dealing with a society in the reunified North and South that had to find a place for freed slaves in all the states. Originally viewed as a post-war time where radical Republicans fastened black supremacy by putting some African Americans in office upon the defeated South, it is now viewed as an experiment in interracial democracy (Foner). Many freed slaves sided with the Southern Republican party and became voters for that party, much to the chagrin of the white Southerners. Despite the obstacles that poverty and white individuals presented black citizens on the path of education, African American leaders, such as black Methodists who built Tolson's Chapel to educate themselves and their children in Sharpsburg, Maryland, made efforts that had long-lasting effects on former slave-holding states ("African Americans and Education"). Nevertheless, the Reconstruction movement was met with resistance by many white Southerners and some Northerners because terrorist organizations like the KKK targeted local Republican leaders, former slaves, and people trying to assist these former slaves with beatings and threats (Foner). The issues would only compile politically and socially during the latter years of and following the Reconstruction Era. During the years of this era, thousands of black men, women, and children were assaulted, killed, or terrorized, and eventually, the United States Supreme Court blocked Congressional efforts to protect formerly enslaved people (Stevenson). Soon, more laws would be set in place to bar many African Americans from voting or holding office, especially in Southern states, and this would mark the beginning of the Jim Crow Laws for many scholars at the end of this era of African American social advancements, education, and political writings.

Although the writings of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois tell about events that occur during the Post-Reconstruction Era, the positive and negative effects of the previous era for African Americans affected the events in the stories and their writing. The history of educational advancements for African Americans in the Reconstruction Era deeply influenced black authors, particularly those such as Washington and Du Bois, to show deep appreciation in their writings. Washington shows gratitude for the Bible teachings of his teacher to provide him great literary skills on top of religious knowledge in Up From Slavery. Du Bois also writes much about his educational journey at Fisk University and his struggles as a teacher, and he even focuses specifically on these topics in chapter four of The Souls of Black Folk. The discrimination and terrorizing of white Southerners, the KKK, and others during the Reconstruction Era also impacted the later lives of these authors. Washington encourages his brethren to develop their intellects but submit to seeking good relations with their white neighbors and not push too hard for gains in civil rights. Du Bois rebukes this notion in chapter three of his book and demands that his brothers take civil action.

Works Cited

“African Americans and Education During Reconstruction: The Tolson’s Chapel Schools.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/african-americans-and-education-during-reconstructi.... Accessed 2 Apr. 2024.

Harlem Renaissance

When it comes to my timeline and what specific event I chose to focus on, I chose to do the Harlem Renaissance. This was an especially crucial time for African Americans and Zora Neale Hurston played a key role in the Harlem Renaissance. To begin Harlem was a northern neighborhood in Manhattan and it was meant to be an upper- class white neighborhood during the 1880s. But with the rapid over development, it led to a ton of empty buildings and desperate landlords trying to find anyone. During the 1900s a few middle classed Black families moved from a neighborhood known as Black Bohemia to Harlem, and once these few Black families moved more followed and moved to Harlem themselves. When the African Americans did move to Harlem many of the white residents began to fight to keep the African Americans out of the neighborhood, but eventually the white residents just gave up and left the neighborhood entirely.

When it comes to the Harlem renaissance it began because there was a large boom within the African American community during 1910 to 1920. When it comes to why the Harlem Renaissance began, it is a little surprising, the boom that happened within the African American community led most individuals to migrate North from the south and this migration was known as the Great Migration. Another issue most African Americans were facing is the loss of jobs due to natural disasters happening in the south and these natural disasters were putting Black individuals out of jobs. The importance in the Harlem Renaissance though is the fact that it was the golden ages for African American artists, writers, and musicians. It gave these artists a sense of pride and dignity and control over how the Black experience was represented throughout American culture and this also set the stage for the civil rights movement.

when it comes to Zora Neale Hurston and her impact on the Harlem Renaissance, she had one of her stories published in FIRE!! (Which was an African American literary magazine that had gotten published in New York City. This magazine showed the exotic lives of Harlem residents.

work cited 

The Great Depression

During the 1920s, life was truly extravagant. The United States economy was thriving and due to a surplus of money, Americans were able to buy practically anything they wanted or needed. However, this soon came crashing down. In 1929, the stock market plummeted and sent the entire world crashing into economic hardship. Impacting nearly everyone in the world, this became known as the Great Depression. This just happens to take place during Susan Glaspell’s life. During the depression, Glaspell moved to Chicago where she became the Midwest Bureau Director of the Federal Theatre Project. The project aimed to reemploy theatrical workers who were relying on public relief rolls.

The depression impacted the lives of nearly all American writers. While their primary focus was often to be creative and invent new works to entertain the American people, they had to alter their focus. Amid this crisis, writers’ focuses shifted to taking care of their family in a valiant attempt to avoid poverty or even survive. In fact, due to the extreme prices of food and the skyrocketing unemployment rate, people would become extremely malnourished. This, nonetheless, was extremely unhealthy and could even lead to death. Thus, drastically decreasing the amount of works in which writers were able to produce throughout this heart wrenching decade.

Works Cited:

“About This Collection:  Federal Theatre Project, 1935 to 1939:  Digital Collections:  Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/collections/federal-theatre-project-1935-to-1939/about-this-.... Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

“What Caused the Great Depression?” Saint Louis Fed Eagle, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 11 Dec. 2022, www.stlouisfed.org/the-great-depression/curriculum/economic-episodes-in-....