Early National Period (jan 1, 1775 – jan 1, 1828)

Description:

-Characteristics-
During this period, a body of distinctly American imaginative literature began to emerge.
As with the novel, poetry, essays, and sketches also began to flourish.
The publishing world and readership in America also began to grow.
Slave narratives were published with increasing frequency.
This period is sometimes called the Federalist period after the conservative federalists in power at the time.
-Major Writers or Works-
-Poetry: Phillip Freneau.
-Prose: Lydia Maria Child
-Narratives: Olaudah Equiano's
-Novels: Hannah Webster Foster's The Coquette.

-Fun facts-
1. The United States bought half a continent for less than 3 cents per hectare.
The famous Louisiana Purchase (1803) and other territorial acquisitions allowed the United States to grow rapidly. Later, in the early period, territories such as Texas, New Mexico, and California were annexed (after the Mexican-American War in 1848).
2. Civil wars were almost constant.
In many Latin American countries, the first years of independence were extremely unstable, with struggles between liberals and conservatives, local caudillos, and even countries that united and separated several times (such as Gran Colombia or the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata).
3. Bolívar dreamed of a united America, but failed.
Simón Bolívar wanted a federation similar to the United States for Latin America (Gran Colombia), but regional rivalries and local interests caused its collapse in less than a decade. 4. Some countries offered their presidencies to foreigners
Desperate for stability, several Latin American countries offered high positions to Europeans or Americans. For example, Mexico invited the Duke of Orleans to be king, and Honduras offered land to businessmen like William Walker, who eventually proclaimed himself president of Nicaragua.
5. Many new nations began with enormous debts
To finance their wars of independence, many republics took out loans from British banks that they were later unable to repay, affecting their economies and sovereignty.
6. Technology began to change the landscape
In the mid-19th century, some countries began installing telegraphs and railroads, symbols of progress, but which often benefited elites or foreign powers more.

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