Unit 4.4 Early American Culture Notes

I. ______architecture

A revival of Greek and Roman styles (“neo” means “______” in Greek)

The U.S. had modeled itself after the Roman Republic and the democratic ideals of ancient Greece, so it copied their architectural styles as well for its governmental buildings

Sometimes also called the “______” style

______: The Executive Mansion was originally built 1792 – 1800

Burned by the British during the ______, but had been restored by 1817 (and painted white to hide the fire damage to the exterior, hence the name White House)

Added onto in 1824, 1829, 1901, 1927, and 1946

In 1950s, the entire structure was gutted and rebuilt with a steel frame from the it was found to be collapsing

______: Built 1793 – 1811

Also burned during the War of 1812, but had been restored by 1819

Expanded between 1826 and 1863; small dome was added but was soon replaced by the larger dome seen today

______: Built 1768 – 1809, Charlottesville, VA

Home of Thomas Jefferson – he designed it himself

Today, it is the only private home designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations

II. Alexis de ______ (1805 – 1859)

French author of Democracy in America (1835 – 1840)

Toured the U.S. for 2 years observing how democracy was creating a uniquely “American” culture

Determined America was a society where hard work and making money was what drove people, where commoners never deferred to their “betters”, and where ______was admired

III. Noah ______ (1758 – 1843)

Published his first English-language dictionary in 1806

In 1826, published his “American” dictionary where he used new American spellings of English words and included thousands of distinctly American words

IV. ______

Early 19th century artistic and literary movement that promoted emotions over logic and reason, inner spirituality over secular rules, the individual over society, and the natural world over man-made environments

The ______School

Group of American artists who focused on painting distinctly American landscapes – canyons, rivers, scenes of the wild, untamed frontiers (at first along the Hudson River, but later in the Rockies)

Style remained popular throughout the 1800s

Washington ______ (1783 – 1859)

Author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip van Winkle

Also a historian and biographer

Perfected the short story as a true literary art form; first major “American” author

Edgar Allan ______ (1809 – 1849); “The Master of the Macabre”

Wrote many poems and short-stories, mostly in the horror genre: The Raven, The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Tell-Tale Heart

Married his 13 year-old cousin (he was 26) but she died at 25

Died at age 40 under mysterious circumstances

James Fenimore ______ (1789 – 1851)

Author of The Last of the Mohicans (1826)

Wrote mostly about life on the American frontier and the conflict between white settlers and Native Americans

Nathaniel ______ (1804 – 1864)

Author of The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of Seven Gables (1851)

Wrote largely on man’s tendency to sin, resulting in his work being labeled “dark romanticism”

Herman ______ (1819 – 1891)

Author of Moby Dick (1851)

Melville’s works were mainly adventure novels, often set on whaling ships

While Melville did write several commercially successful novels during his lifetime, his most famous work today (Moby Dick) was neither a commercial nor critical hit at the time it was written

Walt ______ (1819 – 1892)

Free Verse Poet

Best known for his work ______

Works described as obscene in his own time because of their sexual frankness and homosexual themes

Emily ______ (1830 – 1886)

American poet; wrote thousands of poems

Obsessed with death

Broke rules of poetry concerning structure, rhyme, and capitalization

Famous recluse – did not leave her home for the last 30 years of her life

V. ______

Literary and philosophical movement

Emphasized individualism and self-reliance over religion

People need to “transcend” (overcome) the limits of their mind to embrace beauty and truth

Hated conformity and “followers”

Ralph Waldo ______ (1803 – 1882)

Philosopher, lecturer, essayist, and poet

Believed that all things were divine because all things were connected to God

Strong belief in individualism

Henry David ______ (1817 – 1862)

Author of Walden and Civil Disobedience

Early environmentalist & Abolitionist

“That government is best which governs not at all”

Opposed taxes

Margaret ______ (1810 – 1850)

Author Woman in the Nineteenth Century – first major feminist work published in US

Believed in women’s rights to education and employment; wanted prison reform and an end to slavery

Died in a shipwreck

VI. “______” Press

Mass produced daily newspapers which became affordable for common people

Focused on reports of fires, crime reports, marriages, gossip, politics, local news

Godey’s Lady’s Weekly (1830 – 1898)

Covered poetry, literature, and art primarily from women artists

Included dress patterns, sheet music

First magazine to copyright its material to prevent other publications from using it

______Monthly (1857 – Today)

Focused on literary and cultural trends

Founded and run by famous writers of the time: Stowe, Emerson, Longfellow, etc.

Has published everyone from Mark Twain to Martin Luther King

______Weekly (1857 – 1916)

Featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor

Became famous for its political cartoons by Thomas ______