American CultureEarly 1800s

Great American Writers

• Ralph Waldo Emerson• Herman Melville• Henry David Thoreau• Washington Irving• James Fenimore Cooper

Washington IrvingHe combined European influences to American settings and characters.His work served as a bridge between European literary traditions and authentic American characters and society.

Washington Irving’s Literature

Rip Van Winkle The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

James Fenimore Cooper

•Because of Cooper and Irving, US artists began to depict the History and natural beauty of America

Best know writer of the time

“The Spy” an adventure set during the American Revolution.

“The Prairie” set in the new American West

Other Great Cooper Novels

Other Writers

Catharine Maria Sedgwick – wrote about interesting heroines.“A New England Tale” and “Hope Leslie”

Hudson River School

George Caleb Thomas Cole

Religious Revivals Most music focused on religion and national

pride The American Spiritual – combined both

white and African folk music. “Hunters of Kentucky” popular music

reflected the growing nation. “The Battle of New Orleans” became an

anthem for the Spirit of Nationalism

Religion and Music

Art and Architecture

Thomas Jefferson called for more traditional models.

Architects of the time followed his ideas.

Suffrage is the right to vote This idea spread during the 1820s – 1830s People began to demand the right to vote

especially poorer men that did not own much land

Voting Rights Spread

In 1848 a convention was called in Seneca Falls to discuss the voting rights of women

The leaders of this suffrage movement were Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Margret Fuller

The document written at Seneca Falls was called the Document of Sentiments- it detailed beliefs about social injustice towards women

Seneca Falls