Topics: Government
Type: Autobiography Essays
Sample donated: Tanya Burgess
Last updated: May 4, 2019
William Bradford
– (1590-1657) – Governor of Plymouth (Mass. Bay Colony), – Mayflower Compact, – Of Plymouth Plantation (History)
Roger Williams
– (1603-1683) – Puritain Minister (expelled from Mass.), – Founder of Rhode Island, – A Key to the Languages of America (History)
Anne Bradstreet
– (1612-1672) – First published American poet, – “To My Dear and Loving Husband” (poetry)
Michael Wigglesworth
– (1631-1705) – Puritain Minister, – “The Day of Doom” (poetry, sermon)
Mary Rowlandson
– (1635-1678) – First published American female fiction writer, – Published account of her eleven week captivity (history)
Edward Taylor
– (1644-1729) – Puritain Minister, – Poet (not published until 1930’s)
Samuel Sewall
– (1652-1730) – “Diary” (history), – Layman who captures the essence of Puritain life
Cotton Mather
– (1663-1728) – Puritain Minister, – Profile writer (history, sermon), – Magnolia Christie Americana
Robert Beverly
– (1663-1772) – Southern planter (Virginia), – The History and Present State of Virginia (history)
William Byrd
– (1674-1744) – Southern planter (Virginia), – The History of the Dividing Line (history)
Jonathan Edwards
– (1703-1758) – Puritain Minister, – Great Awakening (sermon), – “Sinners in the Hands of Almighty God” (sermon)
John Woodman
– (1720-1772) – Quaker, – Journal (history)
Jupiter Hammon
– (1720-1800) – First published black American poet, – “An Address to the Negro of the State of New York” (history)
Equiano
– (1745-1797) – First black American published autobiography (history), – Former slave that depicts his journey from Africa to America
Benjamin Franklin
– (1706-1790) – Inventor, publisher, writer, scientist, – Autobiography (original self help book), – Poor Richard’s Almanack
Michael-Guiliaume Jean de Créveceour
– (1735-1813) – French transplant to New York, – Letters from an American Farmer, – “the melting pot”
Thomas Paine
– (1737-1809) – Revolution propagandist, – The Crisis/Common Sense, – “The Federalist Papers”
Philip Freneaur
– (1752-1832) – Poet of the revolution
Charles Brockden Brown
– (1771-1810) – First professional American novelist, – Known for his Gothic novels
Phillis Wheatley
– (1753-1784) – Slave poet, – Taught to read/write by the Wheatley family
Thomas Jefferson
– (1743-1826) – “Declaration of Independence”
Puritain Period
– (1492-1750) – From the earliest settlers to when America is ready to declare independence. – Named because of the Puritain Influence.
– Sermons, histories, personal poems, journals
Enlightenment Period
– (1750-1820) – A period characterized by the use of science, reason, and logic. – A de-emphasis on religion. – Galileo, Sir Issac Newton, Benjamin Franklin.- Politically charged period (writing is mostly pamphlets, speeches, letters), – Public writing (meant to sway peoples opinions)
Romanticism Period
(1820-1860)
Realism Period
(1865-1915)
Modernism Period
(1915-1945)
Post Modern Period
(1945-Present)
Aphorisms
– wise sayings- like proverbs- Benjamin Franklin famous for them