The quest to create a The quest to create a distinct American distinct American

culture….culture….

More on Antebellum culture…More on Antebellum culture…

Our BIG question: What made America Our BIG question: What made America different from other nations at the time? different from other nations at the time? (Or at least, what did (Or at least, what did Americans Americans seem to seem to

think made them different?)think made them different?)

Art: The Hudson River SchoolArt: The Hudson River SchoolThe Art of Thomas ColeThe Art of Thomas Cole

What do youWhat do you- See?See?- Think?Think?- Wonder?Wonder?

Asher Asher DurandDurand

Literature:Literature: James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper

11stst great American great American novelistnovelist

all about nature and all about nature and frontiersman nostalgiafrontiersman nostalgia

More of the greats….More of the greats….

Herman Melville – Herman Melville – gets deep w/ Moby gets deep w/ Moby DickDick

Edgar Allen Poe – Edgar Allen Poe – goes emo w/ some goes emo w/ some ravensravens

Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman

Poet of American Poet of American democracydemocracy

Liberation of the Liberation of the individualindividual

I Hear America SingingI Hear America SingingI hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;Those of mechanics--each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and

strong;The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat--the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench--the hatter singing as he

stands;The wood-cutter's song--the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning, or

at the noon intermission, or at sundown;The delicious singing of the mother--or of the young wife at work--or of

the girl sewing or washing--Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;The day what belongs to the day--At night, the party of young fellows,

robust, friendly,Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.

Song of MyselfSong of Myself

The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me—he complains of my gab and my loitering. The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me—he complains of my gab and my loitering. I too am not a bit tamed—I too am untranslatable; I too am not a bit tamed—I too am untranslatable; I sound my barbaric I sound my barbaric yawpyawp over the roofs of the world. over the roofs of the world.

The last scud of day holds back for me; The last scud of day holds back for me; It flings my likeness after the rest, and true as any, on the shadow’d wilds; It flings my likeness after the rest, and true as any, on the shadow’d wilds; It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk. It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk.

I depart as air—I shake my white locks at the runaway sun; I depart as air—I shake my white locks at the runaway sun; I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeathe myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love; I bequeathe myself to the dirt, to grow from the grass I love; If you want me again, look for me under your boot-soles. If you want me again, look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am, or what I mean; You will hardly know who I am, or what I mean; But I shall be good health to you nevertheless, But I shall be good health to you nevertheless, And filter and fibre your blood. And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged; Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged; Missing me one place, search another; Missing me one place, search another; I stop somewhere, waiting for you.I stop somewhere, waiting for you.

The TranscendentalistsThe Transcendentalists

Group of New England writers and philosophersGroup of New England writers and philosophers Goal to leave confines of understanding and cultivate Goal to leave confines of understanding and cultivate

reasonreason Reason = grasp beauty and truth through instincts and Reason = grasp beauty and truth through instincts and

emotionsemotions First environmentalists?First environmentalists? Ralph Waldo Emmerson – “Self-Reliance”Ralph Waldo Emmerson – “Self-Reliance” Henry David Thoreau – Henry David Thoreau – WaldenWalden Margaret Fuller – calls for feminism through Margaret Fuller – calls for feminism through

tanscendentalismtanscendentalism