Founding Writers: Six Authors

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Introduction: Men

Sources: ThoughtCo, Cliffs Notes, Wikipedia
Prominent male writers of the American colonial period (1607–1775) were primarily defined by religious, historical, and political writing, with key figures including John Winthrop, Cotton Mather, Benjamin Franklin, William Bradford, and John Smith. Their works established the early American literary tradition through diaries, histories, sermons, and early political pamphlets. Key Colonial Period Writers (1607–1765):• John Winthrop: First governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for his journal and the sermon "A Model of Christian Charity," which introduced the "City upon a Hill" concept.• Cotton Mather: A prolific Puritan minister in Boston who published over 450 works, including Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), covering New England's religious history.• William Bradford: Longtime governor of Plymouth Colony and author of Of Plimmoth Plantation, the primary account of the Pilgrims' journey.• John Smith: Explorer and leader of the Virginia colony, known for The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles.• Edward Taylor: A Puritan pastor recognized as one of the best poets of the period, though his work was not published until 1937.• Roger Williams: Founder of Rhode Island and a proponent of religious freedom, known for The Bloody Tenent of Persecution.• Jonathan Edwards: A pivotal theologian and philosopher known for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". • Michael Wigglesworth was a Puritan minister, physician, and poet whose poem The Day of Doom was a bestseller in early New England. Late Colonial/Revolutionary Transition Writers:• Benjamin Franklin: While his most famous writing extends into the Revolutionary era, his early works like Poor Richard's Almanack defined the 18th-century colonial mind.• William Byrd II: Virginia planter who wrote The History of the Dividing Line, capturing life and culture in the Southern colonies.• Philip Morin Freneau: Known as the "Poet of the American Revolution," he began writing in the late colonial period. These writers moved from documenting the survival of the colonies to setting the stage for the intellectual shift toward Enlightenment ideas and revolution.

Introduction: Women

Sources: Literary Ladies Guide, Women’s Narratives of the Early Americas and the Formation of Empire, Wikipedia, Notable American Women Writers
Early American women writers laid the groundwork for the nation's literary tradition by defying strict societal norms to publish poetry, political essays, captivity narratives, and novels. Operating in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, these trailblazers used their pens to challenge ideas of female inferiority, participate in political discourse, and document the harsh realities of colonial life. The Colonial Era (1600s–1750s): During this period, writing was considered an exclusively male domain, forcing early female authors to frame their work through a deeply religious lens to be deemed acceptable. • Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672): She was America's first published poet. Her collection, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, explored family life, spiritual doubt, and the defense of female intellect.• Mary Rowlandson (1637–1711): She authored the first American bestseller by a woman, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. This text established the "captivity narrative" genre by detailing her 11-week capture by the Narragansett tribe.• Sarah Kemble Knight (1666–1727): A businesswoman who wrote a lively traveler's diary later published as The Journal of Madam Knight. It stands out for its humor, travel details, and sharp social satire. The Revolutionary & Early National Periods (1750s–1830s): As the nation fought for independence, women writers demanded a voice in the building of the new republic, advocating for education and civil rights. • Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784): She was the first African American to publish a book. Enslaved in Boston, her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral earned international acclaim and proved a crucial text for early abolitionists.• Judith Sargent Murray (1751–1820): A pioneering feminist essayist. Her landmark essay, "On the Equality of the Sexes" (1790), argued that women's apparent intellectual deficiencies stemmed entirely from a lack of access to education.• Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814): A political dramatist and historian. She wrote anti-British propaganda plays during the Revolution and later published a definitive three-volume history of the war.• Susanna Rowson (1762–1824): Author of Charlotte Temple, the first major American novel bestseller. The cautionary tale warned young women about seduction and abandonment.• Hannah Adams (1755–1831): Widely recognized as the first American woman to become a professional writer, successfully supporting herself entirely through her historical and religious publications. Broad Themes:• The "Republican Motherhood": Writers often justified their public work by framing it as a tool to raise virtuous, educated citizens for the new nation.• The Power of Periodicals: Many women found their initial audiences by contributing anonymously to early American magazines.• Genre Experimentation: Women shifted fluidly between spiritual diaries, political poetry, and sentimental fiction to work around social restrictions.
William Bradford
Michael Wigglesworth
Benjamin Franklin

William Bradford

William Bradford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bradford_(governor) William Bradford: https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/william-bradford William Bradford: http://mayflowerhistory.com/bradford-william Of Plimoth Plantation (background): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Plymouth_Plantation Of Plimoth Plantation (complete text): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24950/24950-h/24950-h.htm Brief Chronology of the Manuscript Volume: • 1630 Bradford begins writing “Of Plimoth Plantation,” a detailed history of the founding of Plymouth Colony and the lives of the colonists from 1621 to 1647. Bradford writes his last notes in the volume in 1650. • 1657-ca. 1775 Manuscript volume remains in Bradford’s family, who allow it to be used by historians and clergymen to document the history of the colony. Last known location is the library of the Old South Church, Boston; the volume is presumably removed by British soldiers during the American Revolution. • 1855 Volume rediscovered in England, in the library of the Bishop of London. • 1897 Volume is returned to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; State Library is given custody. Facsimile edition of entire volume is published. • 2012-2014 State Library secures funding to conserve and digitize the manuscript and to make a digital version available to the public. • 2019 State Library acquires new exhibition case with enhanced security features for display of Library holdings; will be used for short-term display of the Bradford manuscript to commemorate Plymouth's 400th Anniversary at a future date.

Michael Wigglesworth

OVERVIEW: https://www.pbs.org/outofthepast/past/p1/wigg.html OVERVIEW: https://www.poemhunter.com/michael-wigglesworth/biography/ The Day of Doom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_Doom The Day of Doom (complete text): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/56053/56053-h/56053-h.htm "The Day of Doom" was published in 1662. It became colonial America's very first bestseller, widely purchased, read, and memorized by early settlers. It is a dramatic, 224-stanza account of Judgement Day and the subsequent sorting of souls that is rooted heavily in strict Calvinist theology, emphasizing predestination and God's total sovereignty. Intentionally terrifying, dark, and urgent, the poem acted as a poetic sermon to force moral rectitude. The poem was written in an easy-to-remember ballad meter to aid readers who could not read well. Key Themes & Narrative Structure: • The Sudden Arrival: Christ returns unexpectedly at night with supreme majesty, disrupting the entire natural order. • The Separation: Mankind is split into two distinct camps represented symbolically as sheep (the saved) and goats (the damned). • The Defense: Sinners from various walks of life attempt to excuse their behavior. • The Verdict: Christ methodically refutes every defense, ultimately condemning sinners to a "burning lake" while the elect ascend to Heaven. Historical Significance: • Unprecedented Popularity: The first printing of 1,800 copies sold out within a single year. • Cultural Status: Puritans held this piece in high regard, treating it as second only to the Bible.

Benjamin Franklin

OVERVIEW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin OVERVIEW: https://www.biography.com/scholar/benjamin-franklin The Almanack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Richard%27s_Almanack The Autobiography: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/20203/20203-h/20203-h.htm Walter Isaacson on Franklin (University of Pennsylvania): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpNcBBi4gFo Benjamin Franklin’s writings shaped American literature, scientific inquiry, and political philosophy. His most impactful works span his famous autobiography, essays on civic virtue, foundational documents for the United States, and his groundbreaking scientific papers. 1. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Written as a letter to his son, this incomplete memoir is considered one of the finest and first true autobiographies in American literature. It details his early life, his rise from poverty to prominence as a printer, and his quest for moral perfection. It remains a masterclass on the American Dream and self-improvement. 2. Poor Richard's Almanack Published annually between 1732 and 1758 under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders," this was one of the most popular publications in colonial America. It is filled with weather forecasts, recipes, and practical proverbs that emphasized industry, frugality, and practical wisdom. 3. The Way to Wealth In 1757, Franklin compiled many of the best sayings from his 25 years of Poor Richard's Almanack into a single preface later published as The Way to Wealth. Written as a speech given by a wise elder named "Father Abraham," this essay popularized maxims like "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" and remains a seminal text on wealth-building. 4. Experiments and Observations on Electricity First published in London in 1751, this collection of essays and letters detailed Franklin's electrical theories and experiments—including the famous kite experiment. It established his international reputation as a scientist and introduced foundational electrical terms we still use today, such as positive, negative, charge, and battery. 5. The Declaration of Independence (Drafting and Signing) As a member of the Committee of Five, Franklin played a pivotal role in drafting this foundational 1776 document, alongside Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. His persuasive edits and political gravitas helped unite the colonies against British rule. Franklin is the only Founding Father to have signed all four key documents that established the United States: The Declaration, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution.
Ann Bradstreet
Phillis Wheatley
Susanna Rowson

Anne Bradstreet

OVERVIEW: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet OVERVIEW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bradstreet SAMPLE POEMS: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet#tab-poems IMPORTANCE OF BRADSTREET: https://medium.com/@joshua.song/just-how-important-was-anne-bradstreet-5c326b6c4a9a The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in America is the first book of poetry by Anne Bradstreet, published in London in 1650, making her the first female poet in the British North American colonies to have a book published. Published without her direct knowledge by her brother-in-law, John Woodbridge, it features scholarly poems on subjects like the four elements, the four monarchies, and the seasons, alongside personal reflections and a dialogue between "Old England and New.” The title itself acknowledges her as a "Tenth Muse" in a male-dominated literary world, and the work is celebrated for blending personal experience with intellectual and religious themes. It is a landmark work in American literature, notable for its intellectual depth, personal resonance, and for being the first book of poetry by a woman in the colonies. The collection's literary and historical importance can be broken down into the following key areas: • Breaking the Patriarchal Mold: Published in London by her brother-in-law, the volume challenged rigid 17th-century Puritan norms. The title itself—referencing an extra Muse beyond the traditional nine—was a bold assertion of women's intellectual capabilities in a male-dominated literary world. • Bridging Public and Private Themes: While Bradstreet is often remembered for intimate, domestic poems published later, The Tenth Muse includes longer, scholarly works that tackle historical, political, and philosophical themes. This includes an exploration of the elements, the humors of man, and the political turmoil of the English Civil War in poems like the "Dialogue between Old England and New". • Foundational American Identity: The collection helped establish a voice for the New England colonies, documenting the intellectual vigor and complex reality of Puritan settlers beyond simple religious stereotypes.

Phillis Wheatley

OVERVIEW: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley OVERVIEW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillis_Wheatley SAMPLE POETRY: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley#tab-poems INFLUENCE AND LEGACY: http://www.phillis-wheatley.org/influence/ Phillis Wheatley made literary history as the first African American and first enslaved person to publish a book of poems in the Western world. Stolen from West Africa as a child, she was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston, who taught her to read and write. She quickly mastered English, Greek, Latin, and the Bible, weaving these classical and religious influences into a highly sophisticated body of neoclassical verse. Her landmark collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published in London in 1773 after American publishers initially doubted her authorship. ________________________________________ Famous Individual Poems: • "On Being Brought from Africa to America": Her most widely anthologized lyric. It uses a sharp, double-edged critique under a pious surface to remind white Christians that people of African descent can be "refined" and join the godly. • "His Excellency General Washington": Sent directly to George Washington in 1775, this patriotic piece praises his leadership and uses classical imagery to champion American independence from British tyranny. • "To the University of Cambridge, in New-England": A direct, blank-verse address to the students of Harvard University. She contrasts her own origins with the privileges of their advanced education, urging them to use their opportunities wisely and reject sin. • "To S. M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works": Dedicated to Scipio Moorhead, the enslaved artist who created the engraved portrait for her book. The poem celebrates Black artistic creation and links the creative fire to divine inspiration. • "An Hymn to the Evening" & "An Hymn to the Morning": Companion pastoral pieces written in elegant heroic couplets. They rely heavily on Roman mythology (such as Aurora, the goddess of dawn) to find the presence of God in natural landscapes. • "On Imagination": A highly regarded philosophical poem exploring the soaring power of human thought, fancy, and creative expression. • "On Messrs Hussey and Coffin": Published in 1767 in a Rhode Island newspaper when Wheatley was only about 14 years old, this piece about two shipwrecked sailors marks her very first published poem. ________________________________________ Core Themes and Style: • The Heroic Couplet: Influenced heavily by British Augustan poets like Alexander Pope, Wheatley wrote predominantly in rhymed iambic pentameter. • Elegies: More than one-third of her lifetime output consists of elegies (funeral poems) mourning local colonial figures or children, which was a traditional role rooted in both New England puritanism and West African funeral traditions. • The Concept of Liberty: While she frequently used subtext due to her status as an enslaved woman, she consistently tied the colonists' fight for freedom from British rule to the broader, moral necessity of abolishing chattel slavery.

Susanna Rowson

OVERVIEW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Rowson OVERVIEW: https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2012/04/susanna-rowson.html CHARLOTTE TEMPLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Temple BRIEF VIDEO LECTURE (Professor Megan Hall): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxE7aheohWs Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson is an early American bestseller (published 1794) about a young English girl seduced by a British lieutenant, who abandons her in America while she is pregnant, leading to her tragic death. The novel, a "seduction novel," was hugely popular and served as a cautionary tale for young women about the dangers of premarital sex and elopement, with a clear moral lesson about societal expectations and the consequences of sin. Plot: 15-year-old Charlotte Temple elopes to America with Lieutenant Montraville, only to be abandoned by him after he falls for another woman. She is left destitute, gives birth to a daughter, and dies. Genre: It is a classic example of the "seduction novel," a popular genre in early American literature that focused on the downfall of a young woman due to a man's betrayal. Themes: The novel explores themes of innocence, betrayal, abandonment, and the harsh consequences for women who deviate from societal norms. Legacy: It was the most popular novel in America until Uncle Tom's Cabin, with over 200 editions published. A sequel, Lucy Temple, tells the story of Charlotte's orphaned daughter.