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TOPIC 46. THE HISTORICAL SETTING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: FROM THE…
TOPIC 46. THE HISTORICAL SETTING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: FROM THE INDEPENDENCE TO THE CIVIL WAR. REFERENCE NOVELS: THE RED BAD OF COURAGE AND THE SCARLET LETTER.
INTRODUCTION
According to The American Yawp, A Massively Collaborative Open U.S. History Textbook, the period of the United States from independence to the Civil War was a time of significant change in the country's history.
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The American Revolution, which led to the creation of the United States of America, was a key event during this time. The Revolution had both short-term and long-term consequences, including the creation of state constitutions, the growth of the economy, and the expansion of the population.
- The Civil War, which took place between 1861 and 1865, was another significant event that had a lasting impact on American society and politics.
- Two important novels that explore this period are "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "The Red Badge of Courage" by Stephen Crane. These works of literature examine themes such as morality, religion, war, and national identity in the context of American history. Hawthorne and Crane were both influential writers of their time, and their works continue to be studied and appreciated today.
REFERENCES
- Bekmuratovich, X. G. (2020). "The Importance of Teaching History to Students".
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- Grlica, T. (2013). "The Importance of Teaching Literature in a High-School Environment with the Incorporation of Film and Multimedia in the Process".
- Leitch, V. B. (2017). "The Norton Anthology of American Literature"
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BACKGROUND
history of USA preceded by the arrival of the Native Americans in North America (circa 15.000 BC)
The Arrival of Columbus in 1492 started the European colonisation of the Americas
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Jamestown (1607): 1st English settlement in North America, starting the Colonial Period.
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By 1760s, 13 British colonies contained 2.5 M people and were established along the Atlantic Coast (east of the Appalachian Mountains). These colonies were of 2 types, those created by:
- Puritans or Pilgrim Fathers, characterised by a strict way of life based on religion, hard work, discipline, culture and education
- Wealthy merchants interested in tobacco production.
By 1763 the colonies had grown vastly in economic strength and cultural attainment. Up to 1763, Great Britain had formulated no consistent policy for the colonial possessions and there was a general feeling of indifference .
Britain's guiding principle was based on the mercantilist view that colonies should supply the mother country with raw materials and not compete in manufacturing. However, this policy was never enforced. In fact, from the founding (17th C.) British North American colonies were left to govern themselves under charters granted by the English Stuart Kings, guaranteed by the english and the British Parliament.
In 1763, the Treaty of Paris established the end of the 7YW btwn . As a result, England became a very powerful endebted country, so the British Parliament started a tax policy in America to collect funds for the Empire.
(1767) Townshend Acts on imported goods such as glass, paper and lead, paint, glass due to the little profit it produced.
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Tea Act (1773), allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, undercutting local merchants and creating a monopoly.
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SUGAR act (1764) : Imposed duties on sugar and molasses; aimed to end smuggling and raise revenue. It also prohibited the importation of all foreign rum.
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(1765) STAMP Act on all legal docs, newspapers and other printed matters
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THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
(April 19, 1775 - September 3, 1783) it seemed obvious that Britain would win, but the Americans were highly motivated as they were fighting to protect their own homes and families
The response to the Tea Act was the Boston Tea Party (dropping a shipload of tea into the sea and declare that they would not pay tax on tea), so the British Parliament passed the Coercive Act, stripping Massachussets of its historic right of self-government and putting it under military rule, which sparked outrage and resistance in all 13 colonies.
- Patriot leaders from every colony convened the 1st Continental Congress in 1774 to coordinate their resistance. This appeal had no effect and the second Continental congress was convened in Philadelphia (1775) to organise the defence of the colonies. In this second continental congress it was decided to create a Continental Army commanded by Washington.
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Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, based on classical principles of Natural Law. The 56 people who signed it were called The Founding Fathers. This Declaration was amended by congress, attested by its members and published on July 4th, 1776. As a result, the colonies declared their independence from Britain. Despite the colonies remained independent from each other although they united to fight Great Britain.
The Battle of Saratoga (1777) = turning point. American victory encouraged France to support them in the Franco-American Alliance of 1778. Spain joined the war in 1779 vs Britain. In 1780, the Netherlands entered the war vs BR.
British Defeat at the Battle of Yorktown: In 1781, the British army surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, Virginia
Official Close of the War in September 1783 when Britain, USA, France and Spain negotiated the Peace of Paris. It recognised the U.S. as a new and independent country.
In 1781, John Dickinson drafted the "Articles of Confederation", but they were revised in Philadelphia (1787) by 55 delegates representing all states except Rhode Island. They drew up a new document which is still in use in the USA. The delegates agreed on a written constitution, the separation of powers, the need for the federal government to be strong and have the power to declare war and make peace and to tax and regulate commerce. However, there were disagreements on the issue of representation and slavery. This was set in:
- "The Connecticut Compromise", established a bicameral legislature with two houses for equal representation of each state in the Senate, while maintaining the principle of representation by population in the House of Representatives
- The 3/5 Compromise: setting that 5 slave accounted as 3 free men for direct representation and taxation and agreeing that there wouldn't be no interference with the importation of slaves until 1808.
the following years were characterised by
- a spirit of expansionism by land purchase (Louisiana and Florida), war (in Mexico, as a beginning of imperialist sentiment, annexing Texas and obtaining New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado) and by people movement to California, Oregon and Mexico
- women's role shifted after having economic importance during the war of independence, taking charge of farms and businesses. Women began to challenge traditional gender norms. They became more involved in social reform movements, such as abolitionism, temperance, and suffrage. The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 marked a pivotal moment in the women's rights movement
- agriculture: America produced +75% of the world's cotton
- social upheaval and slavery led to war
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THE SCARLETT LETTER
PLOT AND STRUCTURE of the novel includes the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and a resolution around a story of sins (adultery, hypocrisy, pride and self-consuming revenge) and sinners.
HP is a woman living in a Puritan village in NE. She commits adultery with a Puritan minister and they have a child. The society punishes her making hem wear a scarlet letter A on her bosom. Hester's husband returned home after being a captive of the indians and seeks revenge on the minister (winds up killing him). She and her daughter leave NE but then comes back and resumes wearing the scarlet letter.
THEMES
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Criticism of Puritanism: HP = punished but Dimmesdale = free. This is because the law is mixed with the Bible commandments and human judgement
Identity and Society: running away or removing the letter = acknowledgement of society's power over her
Nature vs Society: tension between natural desires and the ways in which society tries to control human nature by imposing laws and rules
Sense of Sin, knowledge and human condition
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Partial Punishment and Moral Codes: discriminatory punishment only to a woman looms large in the background of the Puritanical moral code.
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Love and Redemption : state of sinfulness can lead to personal growth, sympathy, and understanding of others
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SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS
- The Scarlet letter A: at the beginning it represents HP's sin and adultery, but as time progresses, the meaning of the letter changed and becomes more Able.
- Meteor: shaped as an A, a sign from God to Dimmesdale and implies that he should also wear a mark of shame, but for the rest of the community it stands for Angel.
- Red colour: associated with red roses = energy, but also shows lost passion and sincere love
- shadow and sunlight: shadow = secrecy; sunlight = acceptance and love
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written by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, an American novelist and short-story writer. Descended from Puritans, he was imbued with a deep moral earnestness. He was A skilled literary craftsman and a master of allegory and symbolism, he ranks among the greatest American fiction writers.
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THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE
written by STEPHEN CRANE, an American poet, novelist and short-story writer. He wrote notable works in the Realistic tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. He was one of the most innovative writers of his generation, particularly for his pioneering techniques that delved into the psychological depths of his characters and portrayed the raw, gritty realities of life.
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PLOT
it takes place during the US CW, where a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, initially flees from the battlefield out of fear. Overcome with shame, he longs for the red badge of courage as a wound that'd validate his bravery and counteract his cowardice. When his regiment once again faces the enemy, Henry redeems himself by acting as a standard-bearer, courageously carrying the flag.
STRUCTURE
The novel is organised into many short chapters, creating the impression that readers are looking at snapshots in a photo album. It allows readers to enter Henry's mind and become part of his mental debate, which Crane considered a "psychological portrayal of fear", focusing on the personal reaction to fear and the spectacle of war.
SYMBOLS
- Henry's journey: to self-discovery through a high-stress situation
- Noise and silence: noise = chaos and uncertainty; silence = calm maturity
- Youth and Maturity: profound psychological development in the characters from youth to maturity, from innocence to experience.
- Light vs Dark: darkness = fear of the unknown; light = safety, security
- The dead soldier: represents the insignificance of mortal concerns
THEMES
- Courage and Cowardice: traditional and romantic, related to the praise of Henry's peers, incorporating egocentric concerns such as a soldier's regard for his reputation
- Manhood: Henry struggles to preserve his manhood, lamenting that education and religion have tamed men of their natural savagery and made them pale and domestic. Henry learns that the measure of one's manhood lies more in the complex ways in which one negotiates one's mistakes and responsibilities.
- Self-preservation and honour: Henry's influenced by an anxious desire for self-preservation. Courage and honour endow a man with a belief in the worth of preserving the lives of others.
- the universe disregard for human life: natural world spins regardless of the way men live and die
- the reality of war: messy, terrifying, confusing and costly
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