The Influence Of The Colonial Period In American Literature

682 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The colonial period of american literature

The Colonial Period The colonial period in American Literature was a time spanning from European settlements from the very beginning of the colonization of America to the transition or change into the United States of America. Where they created new and innovative ideas and thoughts that set them apart, especially in their writings. What was the goal of this all? People that wanted to colonize America came from many European places, they came prepared with a highly developed military, navy, government, and innovation ability. Europeans traveled to America to increase their money, power, and overall influence in international deals. The very first colony in America was Jamestown, Virginia. It was originally founded in 1607 by people coming to this new world to try and escape all of the harsh religious oppression and victimization of trying to practice religions outside of Great Britain’s own beliefs. Shortly after they arrived they were under severe conditions and were dying away as they had no good sources of food and were …show more content…

Without everything that happened during this time period we very well may not be living in the United States but rather a country under the control of England. The colonial period contained some of the best and most inspirational authors that still affect us today. The original goal of England to come here to grow in power, government, military, and overall world influence quickly changed and their plans fell through. The main reason for coming here for many individuals was for the freedom to practice religion and get away from the beliefs that were forced upon them in England. It was a way to free themselves and be able to do whatever they wanted. In the end of the subject, the Colonial Period was a turning point in our history and Literature that has changed our country

Show More
Related

  • Disappearance of Roanoke: The Lost Colony

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    When most people think of the early settlement they think of the first successful settlement, Jamestown, but this was not the first settlement in the New World. The settlement at Roanoke was the first attempt to colonize the New World. The settlement at Roanoke is often referred to as the “Lost Colony” because of its unusual disappearance. The reason people often do not know about the first settlement at Roanoke because it was abandoned, forgotten, and lost. The Roanoke settlement was located on an island on the northern coast of what is now North Carolina. A few more than a hundred English men first settled the colony at Roanoke Island in 1584. The conditions were harsh and between the lack of supplies and the troubles with natives of the area the settlement was all but doomed from the start. Three years after the initial settlement was founded, in 1587, more English arrived this time there were one hundred and ten colonists that consisted not just of men, but of women and children as well. Women and children were brought to the New World so that the settlement could become a fully functioning society. Of course this idea obviously did not work out as planned. The war going on in Europe between the English and the Spanish caused a delay of more supplies and people. If there had not been a prolonged delay in the resupplying process the entire course of American history may not have been what we know it to be now. If the war had started any earlier or later then people might have known more about the original first settlement of the New World. All the evidence left when people returned to Roanoke following the war in Europe was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Historians believe these to be marks left by the Croatoan Indians...

    Read More

  • Jamestown: Why Did So Many Die?

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jamestown was the first successful settlement established by England. It was first built in 1607 and lasted until about 1614. On the first ship, 100 male settlers set off for a new settlement in the New World. Life there at times was hard for various reasons. They did, however, become 7 7 trading partners with the Indians. 80% of Jamestown’s more than 500 settlers that had arrived had been dead by 1611. The reason for this is because of sickness and disease, lack of resources, and where they chose to build their settlement.

    Read More

  • Was Colonial Culture Uniquely American?

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    Colonial culture was uniquely American simply because of the unique factors associated with the development of the colonies. Never before had the conditions that tempered the colonists been seen.

    Read More

  • Puritanism Vs. Rationalism In Colonial America

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Colonial Period writing in American Literature really showed the values of the time. Whether it was being a Puritan or a Rationalist, many stood forward to share their strong actions, thoughts, and goals. America was just beginning and a great divide stood between Rationalism and Puritanism. Puritans followed God and surrounded their day with work, prayer, and overall restriction of any activity that is for entertainment purposes. The Rationalists questioned human behavior and constantly searched for answers, they listened to their curiosities, but also tried to be their best self. Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages, or goods and bads, but together they stood in strength. People stood strong on their side of the Puritan/Rationalist scale.

    Read More

  • Rise Of Great Britain Essay

    1852 Words  | 4 Pages

    Colonization was important because it allowed trade and exploration. By colonizing in North America, England could further explore Canada. Colonization also helped establish the slave trade. Colonizing in India benefited England because it diversified their produce supply. There was great benefit in India. England could acquire resources that they could not have come across otherwise. These include peppers, spices and teas. In other words, in order to trade effectively the English had to set up a colony from which they could trade. Britian understood this and had a lot of colonies globally. Britain possessed colonies along the eastern seaboard of North America at the beginning of the 18th Century, as well as a number of islands in the Caribbean. The U.S. state of Georgia became a British Crown Colony in 1732 and Britain acquired the Ceded Islands of the Caribbean in 1763. Successively Britain later acquired colonies in New South Wales, Sierra Leone, Trinidad, Mauritius and the Cape. Colonization was as far reaching as Bengal and Madras. “The Empire on which the sun never sets” is a very accurate statement. Likewise, the British needed to be reimbursed for establishing these colonies. They had to use the colonies to create growth for their

    Read More

  • Common Sense Essay

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    The colonization of America began when many colonists and settlers from emigrated from Europe and began to settle into the North American colonies. Many came to the North American colonies to look for the opportunity of wealth by conquering and ruling land. Throughout the years, the transformation of the country changed drastically and experienced an era of remarkable growth. As the approach to the 18th century became closer, British America had developed a method of ruling and government in the North American Colonies and with time, America would want fight for their independence from the British. One key event that supported the move toward American Independence included the publication of an influential pamphlet, Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine. Common Sense highlighted the importance in conquering independence from Britain and gave colonists the devotion and self-fulfillment to keep fighting and achieving self-government.

    Read More

  • The Chesapeake and New England Colonies: A Comparison

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Chesapeake region of the colonies included Virginia, Maryland, the New Jerseys (both East and West) and Pennsylvania. In 1607, Jamestown, the first English colony in the New World (that is, the first to thrive and prosper), was founded by a group of 104 settlers to a peninsula along the James River. These settlers hoped to find gold, silver, a northwest passage to Asia, a cure for syphilis, or any other valuables they might take back to Europe and make a profit. Lead by Captain John Smith, who "outmaneuvered other members of the colony's ruling and took ruthlessly took charge" (Liberty Equality Power, p. 57), a few lucky members of the original voyage survived. These survivors turned to the local Powhatan Indians, who taught them the process of corn- and tobacco-growing. These staple-crops flourished throughout all five of these colonies.

    Read More

  • Essay On Powhatan

    435 Words  | 1 Pages

    The first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, was created by the English when they arrived in Virginia in 1607, they did not encounter an inhabited land. The Powhatan Cheifdom numbered 15,000 or something close to the amount. The Chief Powhatan has the given name, which was Wahunsunacock.

    Read More

  • Jamestown and Plymouth

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    The English had two main colonies in the new world, Jamestown and Plymouth. The first colony was Jamestown, established in Virginia in 1607. Jamestown was settled by Captain John Smith, and was named after King James I. Tobacco was the main export of Jamestown, and became the basis of the Jamestown economy, sending more than 50,000 lbs of the plan back to Europe by 1618 (textbook 46). Jamestown had a very rocky start, many colonists dying in the first few years of the settlement, and the settlers had many problems with natives. Shortly after the arrival of English colonists the Natives attacked them, and were finally forced back by a canon from the English. A very uneasy truce was finally settled between the natives, called the Powhatans, and the English (textbook 44-5). Economic growth and expanding their territories were the main priorities of the English in the Jamestown colonies.

    Read More

  • Early American Literature

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the new world struggled to gain impendence from its mother country, Britain, native authors also try to develop their own style of writings. It quickly became evident that the search for a native literature became a national obsession. Then with the triumph of American independence, many at the time saw this as a divine sign that America and her people were destined for greatness. Greatness came with a strong nation and thousands of poems and stories that still shape our nation. The recent revolution greatly expressed the heart of the American people. However, it would take another fifty years of development throughout American before it produced the first great generation of American writers such as, Washington Irving, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson, just to name a few.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Thomas Paine And John De Crevecoeur

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two of the most important authors of early America are Thomas Paine and St. John de Crevecoeur. De Crevecoeur in his work “Letters from an American Farmer” set forth in simplest terms just exactly what it was that people who were immigrating to the American colonies could expect. His words and thoughts still define how many think of America today even if they don’t know that the words are his. Thomas Paine was a firebrand that wrote perhaps the most important of the pre-Revolution tracts in “Common Sense”. His analytical style in addressing the problems that were obviously there between the thirteen colonies and

    Read More

  • Understanding the Effects of American Literature on the Civil War Era

    1776 Words  | 4 Pages

    This Investigation seeks to explore to what extent literature impacted social disorder during the antebellum years of the Civil war? To evaluate the extent to which American literature provoked social disorder before Civil War, this investigation maintains focus on the effects of popular works such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Uncle Remus, and other famous publications on the general public. The effects of literature on certain social groups, such as political parties, are also considered throughout the investigation. The effects of literature written during the post-war years to the American Civil War will not be considered even if directly about the war, rather this investigation only assesses the effects of works written in the eve of the war that had significance in shaping the war.

    Read More

  • Early American Literature

    419 Words  | 1 Pages

    Early American literature consisted mainly of diaries, journals, short stories, and Indian creation stories. Since some of the language used was of older English and other languages, early American literature was difficult to read.The first story I read was Spanish Explorers in the New World. This story was a journal of Cabeza de Vaca’s travels and discoveries in the New World. After having a shipwreck, he and his fellow sailors were made slaves of the Indians. They walked barefoot, bleeding and ate raw meat for food. He also described how one tribe took over land.

    Read More

  • The Influence of History on American Literature

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    “A Tale Intended to be After the Fact…” is how Stephan Crane introduced his harrowing story, “The Open Boat,” but this statement also shows that history influences American Literature. Throughout history, there has been a connection among literary works from different periods. The connection is that History, current events, and social events have influenced American Literature. Authors, their literary works, and the specific writing styles; are affected and influenced by the world around them. Authors have long used experiences they have lived through and/or taken out of history to help shape and express in their works. Writing styles are also affected by the current trends and opinions of the period they represent. By reading American Literature, we have seen the inhumane treatment of slaves, we have seen the destruction caused by wars, and we have seen the devastation of eras such as The Great Depression.

    Read More

  • Colonialism In P. Forster's A Passage To India

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    Books of literature also helped provide the bourgeois epistemological knowledge for colonialists. They were used to exploiting the people intellectually. They were also used to shaping the style of thoughts of the colonized. Colonial literature mostly reflects

    Read More

More about The Influence Of The Colonial Period In American Literature

Open Document