The Civil War in Literature: From Romanticism to Realism

1. The Civil War in Literature:From Romanticism to Realism

2. Primary Source:Industrial Revolution Factory Conditions : dangerous, overcrowded, unfair working conditions.

3. I. Cultural Influences of the Early 19th Century: 1800-1840 • Industrial Revolution • Child Labor • Exploitation of Factory workers • Urbanization- from rural areas to cities • Social Mobility – move from lower to middle or upper class • Immigration (Europe / Orient) • Slavery • Women’s Rights • Westward Expansion/ Dream of owning land • California Gold Rush • The American Dream • Religious Freedom • Chance to own land • Opportunity to gain education • Opportunity to become a self-made man • Chance to ascend to a higher socio-economic class • Free Enterprise System • Hard work, determination, dreams

4. II. Romanticism in Literature • Idealism – perfectability of life, people, society • Focus on emotions, intuition rather than logic • Focus on nature and learning life’s lessons from nature; being one with nature • Focus on common man and the issues which he faces, using his language & vocabulary • Focus on the individual and his worth– equality of man • Focus on supernatural, man’s connectedess to cosmos

5. III. Realism in Literature Accurate and detailed portrayal of actual life – not idealized at all, showed good and bad Criticism of society, government, religion Use of Irony and Satire New authors – some self-taught, not all highly educated Realistic literature: slave narratives, diaries of soldiers and women left behind in war Use of new poetic form – free verse, little in the way of meter, rhyme, usual poetic formats (sonnets, ode, blank verse/ iambic pentameter --too restrictive)

6. Primary Sources: Slavery Slave Auction House Slave Sale Flyer Slave with scarred back

7. IV. 1855-1870 A. Cultural divide between North and South • Economic Divisions • North – manufacturing, financial services, economy based on trade and industry • South – agricultural economy, exporting cotton, sugarcane & tobacco • Westward Expansion Conflict • New States/Territories – had to be declared free or slave • Bleeding Kansas 1850-56

8. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry Attempt to arm slaves and inspire a slave revolt

9. Missouri pro-slavery mob cast illegal ballots in favor of slavery at gun point • John Brown killed 5 pro-slavery who sacked antislavery town of Lawrence and led raid at Harper’s Ferry B. Government Involvement • Congressmen Conflict 1856– Brooks(pro) attacks and beats Sumner(anti) unconscious on the Senate floor • Dred Scott Decision (1857) Supreme Court rules that slave who lived free for a time in a free state becomes a slave again in a slave state

10. V. Civil War • Lincoln Elected -1860 • Moderate • Preserve the Union • Stop westward expansion of slavery • Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery -- 1862 • 13th Amendment of US Constitution permanently abolished slavery in the US --1865

11. D. Confederate States of America • Southern States seceded from the Union – South Carolina first; Louisiana sixth in January 1861 Confederate Gray and Union Blue

12. Women Support the Civil War Effort Top: As nurses caring for wounded soldiers Rt: In support of the cause of the Confederacy Below: Wives and children along with encamped soldiers

13. Map of Union vs. Confederate States Note gray states are slaves states that remained in the union

14. E. Romantic ideas of war existed in N & S • Nicknames for soldiers: • “Johnny Reb” • “Yanks” • Battle of Bull Run • Confederate Army won, bloody battle • Spectators packed Champagne and picnic lunches to watch battle– fled in horror at reality of war General G.T. Beauregard, Louisianian

15. VI. End of War War ended 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. Casualties – 618,000 dead, much of south gutted, bridges burned, ruined railroad lines Thus began Reconstruction .. But that’s a story for another day …