Describe American literature from its Colonial beginnings up to the Civil War.

Tell the story of American literature from its Colonial beginnings up to the Civil War.  Proceed chronologically. As you explain the different eras/movements, you will refer frequently to important authors and texts by name. You won’t have time to include all of them, so you’ll have to prioritize. Determine which authors and texts best embody the unique characteristics of each era/movement that we’ve studied.  Here are the Authors we talk about in class to help you -Anne Bradstreet -Walt Whitman -Henry David Thoreau -Ralph Waldo Emerson -Phillis Wheatley. -William Bradford -Edward Taylor