Early American Literature

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Early American Literature

• Native Americans
• Europeans
• Africans

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Native Americans

• Arrived across Bering Strait 30,000 years ago.
• Nomadic hunters and gatherers.
• By 1500, there were 700 distinct tribes living in
  North America.
• Most tribes were peaceful settling difference
  through negotiation, not war.
• Complex cultures

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Native American Literature

• Oral tradition
• Poetry and stories
• Presented in form of myths, folk tales, and song
• Common theme Examines the close relationship
  between human beings and nature. Shows a deep
  respect for the land.

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Native American Literature
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The Spanish

• In 1492, Columbus opened the door to a century of
  Spanish Exploration
• Cortes in Mexico
• Pizarro in Peru
• Narvaez DeSoto in southeastern U.S.
• Coronado in southwestern U.S.

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The EuropeansThe Spanish

• By 1550, Spanish control extended throughout
  Mexico, Central America, part of the southwestern
  U.S., most of the West Indies, most of western
  South America

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Spanish Motivation for Exploration

• Adventure Explorers were well-regarded and
  rewarded.
• Treasure huge amounts of Indian gold and
  silver.
• Desire for Converts to Christianity
  establishment of missions. Clothing, food, and
  housing. By 1630, over 60,000 Native American
  converts.

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The Spanish

• St. Augustine, Florida oldest town in the U.S.
  1565.
• Destruction of Native America societies.
• By 1588, Spanish influence was in decline after
  the defeat of the Armada.
• Literature Types personal narratives of
  explorers and legends from missionary period.

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The EuropeansThe English

• Roanoke Island colony in 1585.
• Jamestown founded in 1607. Within seven month,
  disease and hardship claimed the lives of 2/3 of
  the settlers.
• Tobacco is first cash crop.
• Successful because regarded the new settlements
  as their home.
• Plymouth Colony established in 1620 by Pilgrims.

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The English

• Types of Literature histories of the new land
  and religious writings.
• First book published in the New World The Bay
  Psalm Book (1640).

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The Africans

• First Africans in North America were probably
  slaves of the Spanish Portuguese.
• Slavery developed in the colonies in early 1600s.
• By 1644 laws requiring lifelong servitude for
  black slaves.
• Quakers were the only religious body to oppose
  slavery for over a century.

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The Africans

• Estimated 15 million Africans were transported to
  the Americans between 1540 1850.
• Most Africans in America were West African or
  coast of Central African descent.

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The Africans

• Slave traders maximized profit by carrying as
  many as physically possible on a slave ship.
• The Brookes carried over 600 people from Africa
  to the Americas. It was originally built for 451
  people.
• Only half of the peoples taken from Africa became
  effective workers in the Americas. Many died
  from disease, were crippled for life, or
  committed suicide.

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The Africans

• By the 17th century, slaves could be purchased in
  Africa for about 25 and sold in America for
  about 150.
• Even with a death rate of about 50 percent,
  merchants could expect to make tremendous
  profits.

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The Africans

• Very little literature exists from this time
  period.
• Literature Types Slave narratives by freed
  slaves and some poetry.
• Most personal history survived only in oral
  tradition.