Beginnings of the Beginnings of the American Tradition to American Tradition to

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The New WorldThe New World

• Columbus– October 1492,

island of Guanahani (San Salvador)

– 6 years to believe in new continent

Exploration and SettlementExploration and Settlement

• Desire to explore and describe new continent inspired many of the earliest works of American literature

• 50 years after Columbus, Europeans exploring new land– Faster trade route to China– Earthly Paradise (cure all for diseases)– Rivers of gold– Fountain of Youth

Grim realityGrim reality

• You’re not alone (2000 Indian tribes)

• Cortes– Destroyed Mexico City in 93 days;

exterminated Aztecs

• Cabeza de Vaca– Walked 2/3 of North America

Changing from Exploration to Changing from Exploration to SettlementSettlement

• New settlers = exploration

• Adventure and gold

• Established inhabitants = settling

• Food is plentiful and poor people might own land

The land of possibilities

Is this still the case? Think about Is this still the case? Think about current immigrationcurrent immigration

• Where are people coming from today?

• Why?

• What is U. S. response to this politically and socially?

With settlement comes….With settlement comes….

• Literature– Inexpensive pamphlets in Europe– Advertisements

To such as to Virginia, do purpose to repair; And when that they shall thither come, each man shall

have his shareDay wages for the Laborer; and for his more content, A house and garden plot shall have…

~from News from Virginia, published 1610What is this?

Captain John SmithCaptain John Smith1579 or 1580 - 16311579 or 1580 - 1631

"History is the "History is the memory of time, the memory of time, the life of the dead and life of the dead and the happiness of the the happiness of the

living."living." J. Smith 1630J. Smith 1630

• First to successfully promote settlement of America

• Captured by Indian leader Powhatan and almost put to death

• Saved by Pocahontas (Matoaka)

Smith’s contributions to AmericaSmith’s contributions to America

• Founded Jamestown, VA (first English colony)

• Gave New England its name

• Cartographer

• Publisher of experiences in New World

–Advertising

–Clear up European myths about America

AmbivalenceAmbivalence

• The quality of feeling different ways about the same thing

• Smith was ambivalent about the Indians b/c he was impressed with their bravery and generosity, but he considered them childish, changeable, barbaric, and idolatrous

33rdrd Person Point of View Person Point of View

• Subjectivity and Objectivity

• Purpose

• Successful?

• Cite evidence of Smith’s attempt at objectivity.

• Where is he subjective?