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PERIOD NAME AND DATE: Period Characteristics 

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PERIOD NAME AND DATE: Period Characteristics 

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2200 B.C.—Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

2200 B.C. to 1600 A.D.

1607—Early settlement at Jamestown

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1. Oral literature: epic narratives, creation myths, stories, poems, songs.

2. Use stories to teach moral lessons and convey practical information about the natural world.

3. Deep respect for nature and animals.

4. Cyclical worldview.

5. Figurative language/parallelism.

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In 1492, after three months of sailing, Christopher Columbus arrived on a Caribbean island. He mistakenly thought he had reached the East Indies, so he called the local people "Indians." On his first day there, he captured six natives to use as servants.

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In May 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived in Florida to take control of the area. He explored the southern regions with help from Native Americans who were captured during his journey.

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In October 1540, De Soto and his Spanish crew were heading to meet their ships in Alabama when Native Americans attacked them. The battle that followed resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Native Americans.

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies (1600-1800)

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies (1600-1800)

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1507: Early Settlement of the first American colonies - Jamestown

1692: Salem Witch Trials

1741: Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies (1600-1800)

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies (1600-1800)

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William Bradford - "Of Plymouth Plantation"

Anne Bradstreet (poetry)

John Edwards - "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Edward Taylor -"Huswifery"

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The early American colonies, especially in New England, were strongly influenced by Puritanism, which was a religious movement that aimed to improve the Church of England. Puritans believed in strict moral rules, living simply, and that everything was part of God’s plan. This way of thinking affected their communities, politics, and laws. For example, during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, religious excitement led to accusations of witchcraft and the execution of 20 people. Their writings, like William Bradford’s "Of Plymouth Plantation" and Jonathan Edwards’ sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," show how much they cared about spiritual salvation.

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During this time, there was a religious revival called the Great Awakening, which spread through the American colonies and was known for emotional preaching and a stronger faith. Jonathan Edwards was an important leader in this movement, and his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" painted a scary picture of Hell, encouraging people to repent for their sins. This period challenged the strict Puritan beliefs by focusing more on personal spiritual experiences instead of just following community rules. It also helped set the stage for religious freedom and questioning authority, which later influenced the revolutionary spirit in the colonies.

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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1607 Early Settlement—Jamestown

1775-1783 Revolutionary War

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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1. Mostly comprised of philosophers, scientists, writing speeches and pamphlets

2. Human beings can arrive at truth (God's rules) by using deductive reasoning, rather than relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or intuition

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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Rationalism: "The Age of Reason" and "The Enlightenment"

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Benjamin Franklin —Autobiography

Patrick Henry —"Speech to the Virginia Convention"

Thomas Paine —"The Crisis"

Phyllis Wheatley —poetry

The Constitution

The Bill of Rights

The Declaration of Independence

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Many people during the Rationalism period believed in Deism, which means that you can use reason and observe nature to understand that a Creator exists. This idea influenced many Founding Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. They saw God as someone who created the universe and then let it run on its own without interference.

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Before the American Revolution, many pamphlets were published, which helped spread revolutionary ideas. One important pamphlet was "Common Sense," written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It argued for the colonies' independence from Britain and helped change people's minds about the revolution. Paine's writing was easy to understand, making complex ideas clear to regular colonists.

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"The American Renaissance"

1840-1860: Transcendentalism

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1. Everything in the world, including human beings, is a reflection of the Divine Soul.

2. People can use their intuition to behold God's spirit revealed in nature or in their own souls.

3. Self-reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority and link conformity to tradition.

4. Important social and political movements include the Abolitionist, Utopian, and Women's Suffrage Movements

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

—Nature
—"Self-Reliance"

Henry David Thoreau
—Walden
—Life in the Woods

Louisa May Alcott
—Little Women

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Transcendentalists believed that nature showed the presence of God. They thought that being in nature helped people connect with God and discover their true selves. This idea encouraged many writers and thinkers to appreciate the beauty of nature, believing it was important for spiritual growth.

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Transcendentalism had a big impact on several social movements in the 19th century. Many Transcendentalists were involved in the Abolitionist Movement, which fought against slavery and supported the rights of African Americans. Their beliefs in individual rights and social justice helped drive the fight for equality in America.

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1800-1860

The War of 1812
(1812-1815)

California Gold Rush

(1848–1855)

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1. Valued feeling, intuition, idealism, and inductive reasoning.

2. Placed faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination.

3. Shunned the artificiality of civilization and sought unspoiled nature as a path to spirituality.

4. Championed individual freedom and the worth of the individual

5. Saw poetry as the highest expression of the imagination

6. Dark Romantics: used dark and supernatural themes/settings (Gothic style)

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Washington Irving
—"Rip van Winkle"

Emily Dickinson
—poetry

Walt Whitman
—Leaves of Grass

Edgar Allan Poe
—"The Raven"

Nathaniel Hawthorne
—The Scarlet Letter

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One interesting part of the Romantic period is how writers saw nature as a way to connect with spirituality and find themselves. They believed nature offered an escape from the problems of growing cities and industrialization, which they saw as corrupt. For them, nature was a place to reconnect with their true selves and even had magical qualities.

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Another part of Romanticism is its focus on the darker side of human nature. Writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne, known as "Dark Romantics," explored themes like guilt, sin, and consequences. Poe’s "The Raven" looked at fear, while Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter examined guilt and how society judges people.

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One thing that stood out to me about the American Renaissance is how it was a time of major growth in U.S. literature, from the 1820s to the 1860s. Writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne explored big ideas like individualism, nature, and what it means to be American. While inspired by European Romanticism, they aimed to create a unique American style of writing.

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Another interesting thing I learned is how the Puritans influenced early American literature. The Puritans, who came to New England in the 1600s, had strong religious beliefs that shaped early American writing. Their writings often focused on themes like sin, redemption, and community. These ideas later appeared in American Renaissance literature, with authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne exploring Puritan themes of guilt and punishment in books like The Scarlet Letter.

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One surprising thing I learned about the Cold War is how much fear of communism gripped the U.S. during that time. People were scared that communist spies were secretly working in the government, military, and even Hollywood. This fear led to Senator Joseph McCarthy accusing many innocent people of being communists without proof. His investigations caused a lot of unfair trials and created a climate of fear, similar to a witch hunt.

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I also found it interesting how the government targeted Hollywood through the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). Many actors, writers, and directors were accused of being communists. Some named others to save themselves, while others were banned from working. Those blacklisted had their careers ruined, and it took years to clear their names. This "Red Scare" affected both politics and the personal lives of many Americans.

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House Committee on Un-American Activities

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Tupac’s connection to the Black Panther Party had a big impact on his life and music. His mom, Afeni Shakur, was a member of the party, and his stepdad, Mutulu Shakur, was also involved. Afeni was even in jail on bombing charges when she had Tupac. Growing up in such an active, protest-filled environment made Tupac want to speak out about social justice issues and the challenges Black Americans face. His music often focused on fighting back and lifting people up, similar to the Black Panther Party’s message.

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Before Tupac became famous for rapping, he tried acting. He was in movies like Juice and Poetic Justice, where he starred with Janet Jackson. His acting helped him build a bigger public image and showed people he was a well-rounded artist. These roles helped him grow his influence and proved his talents went beyond music.

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Tupac’s time in prison in 1994 really changed him and his music. While he was behind bars, his album Me Against the World was released and became a huge success. Being in prison gave him a lot of time to reflect, and that made his music more real and full of emotion. The struggles he went through during that time brought a new depth to his songs, which is why they still resonate with so many people today.

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Anne Bradstreet was well-educated, even though she never attended a formal school. Her father, Thomas Dudley, loved reading and taught her a lot, giving her a strong education. She also had access to a great library at the estate where her family lived for many years. There, she read important writers like Virgil, Homer, and Milton, which helped her build a foundation in literature.

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Bradstreet was also one of the first women to juggle family life with writing. She had eight children between 1633 and 1652, which meant her home life was busy and demanding. Still, she kept writing poetry, even managing to publish her first collection, The Tenth Muse, at a time when it was rare for women to be published authors. Her ability to balance being a mom and a writer shows how dedicated she was to both her family and her love for poetry.

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On top of everything she achieved, Anne Bradstreet also challenged the traditional roles of women. In her poem In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory, she speaks out against men who belittle women and praises Queen Elizabeth for breaking the norms about what women should do. With this, Bradstreet made a bold statement about the value of women’s voices, especially at a time when women were expected to stay quiet and follow the rules. Her writing was truly groundbreaking for women during her time.

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Before Louisa May Alcott became well-known for Little Women, she wrote a lot of dramatic and violent stories under the name "A.M. Barnard." These stories were very different from her later, more family-friendly books. They usually featured strong, independent women in intense, often shocking situations. The stories she wrote under this pen name were bolder than the wholesome tales that made her famous later on.

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When the American Civil War started, Louisa volunteered as a nurse to help out. Unfortunately, she caught typhoid fever because the hospital conditions were very unsanitary. This illness affected her health for the rest of her life. Still, she wrote a book called Hospital Sketches, where she shared her experiences and showed readers the tough and emotional situations she went through while caring for soldiers.

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Little Women, one of Louisa's most famous books, was inspired by her own childhood. The four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, are based on Louisa and her real life sisters. The character of Jo, who is independent and passionate about writing, is often seen as a reflection of Louisa herself, showing much of her personality and personal struggles.

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Civil War
1861-1865

Reconstruction Era
1865-1877

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1. Feelings of disillusionment.
2. Common subjects: slums of rapidly growing cities, factories replacing farmlands, poor factory workers, corrupt politicians.
3. Represented the manner and environment of everyday life and ordinary people as realistically as possible (Regionalism).
4. Sought to explain behavior (psychologically/socially).

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Mark Twain
-Huckleberry Finn

Jack London
-Call of the Wild
-"To Build a Fire"

Stephen Crane
-"The Open Boat"

Ambrose Bierce
-"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

Kate Chopin
-"Story of an Hour"
-The Awakening

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There was an election at 1960 in which Abraham Lincoln was elected. During this period, eleven states were formed together which was known as the Confederate States. The cause for the civil war was problems in both the North and South. In the North, there were small scale farms and agriculture was limited. In the South, there was large scale farming and they were abundant in crops like tobacco and cotton.

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Something which sparked this era to start was when enslaved people escaped farms and fled to free states or U.S forces. They had passed constitutional amendments which had abolished slavery and equal protection under the law. One major constitution it had passed was that it allowed males the ability to vote and prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, or condition.

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World War I
1914-1918

The Great Depression
1929-1939

World War II
1939-1945

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1. Sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the "American Dream": the independent, self-reliant, individual will triumph.
2. Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form over the traditional.
3. Interest in the inner workings of the human mind (ex. Stream of consciousness).

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Lorraine Hansberry
-A Raisin in the Sun

F. Scott Fitzgerald
-The Great Gatsby

William Faulkner
-"A Rose for Emily"

Eudora Welty
-"A Worn Path"

Robert Frost
-poetry

T. S. Eliot
-The Waste Land
-"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

John Steinbeck
-Of Mice and Men
-The Grapes of Wrath

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When I first learned about Modernism, I realized it was all about breaking away from the old ways of doing things in art and literature. People during this time wanted to try new ideas and express themselves in different ways. This happened around the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. After World War I, many artists and writers felt like the world had changed forever, and the old rules didn’t make sense anymore. So, they started experimenting and creating things that looked and sounded very different from what came before.

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In literature, I found that Modernism focused a lot on how people felt confused and lost after the war. Writers like T.S. Eliot and F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about sadness, change, and how the world didn’t feel the same anymore. Books like The Great Gatsby showed how the American Dream wasn’t always real, and people were searching for meaning.

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One interesting fact I learned is that during the 1930s, the American Dream wasn’t just about getting rich, it became more about surviving and taking care of your family. The Great Depression caused a lot of people lost their jobs and didn’t have much money. Families had to be smart with what little they had. People reused things, made clothes out of flour sacks, and found creative ways to live.

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Have you ever wondered what events in 1930s America affected your ancestors who were listed in the 1940 U.S. census? Social history is an important part of any family's history, and learning what was going on in the world around your ancestors can add interest and insight to their life stories.

The people listed in 1940 U.S. census records were greatly affected by what was going on in 1930s America. The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the start of World War II on the European front were some of the most impactful historical events of the time. These events influenced what our ancestors wore, what they did for work, how they managed their homes, where they lived, what they did for fun, and much more. If your ancestors were included in the 1940 census records, these events likely played a role in their lives.
You can search for your ancestors in the 1940 United States census for free on FamilySearch.org. Find out how they were employed, where they lived, and if they had migrated-all life experiences that were likely shaped by the major historical events of the 1930s.
1930s American Culture and Historical Events Leading Up to the 1940 U.S. Census

The Great Depression

The Great Depression (1929 to 1939) was brought on by many factors, but its catalyst was the October 1929 stock market crash. The effects were felt not only in the United States, but in virtually every country of the world. Unemployment in the U.S. rose to 25 percent, and other countries experienced similar or worse unemployment rates.

When people lost their jobs during the depression, they stopped earning money, and as a result, they stopped spending money. The adage "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" reflected the spirit of the times. Frugality and resourcefulness helped many families withstand the economic crisis of the 1930s. Women started transforming flour and feed sacks (made out of cotton) into dresses, underwear, dish towels, curtains, and other items for the home. Some manufacturers noticed this trend and began creating flour and feed sacks with appealing, colorful designs so the sacks could be multipurposed as attractive clothing fabric.

1930s Clothing and Entertainment

While the Great Depression ended up having a major impact on 1930s culture and fashion, people still found ways to enjoy life with what they had. The common house dress was quite practical, and feed-sack dresses became a popular trend of the time. Some women in the 1930s still wanted to "look smart" when going out, however. Afternoon tea might call for a dress of silk or rayon crepe with puffed sleeves and belted waists. And don't forget the hat!

Though fashionable suits with padded shoulders and tapered sleeves were popular for men, the average man wore work clothes most of the day because of the hard times. Work attire sometimes meant a white button-up shirt, slacks, and a tie. A jacket and cap were also very practical for men in the early 1930s. Trench coats and waistcoats also became quite popular.

Though life was difficult and money was tight, some entertainment options still grew in popularity during the 1930s- particularly the radio. Many found a way to purchase a radio set, knowing it would provide unlimited free entertainment. The whole family could sit together around the radio at home and enjoy big band music, sporting events, and comedy programs, such as Amos 'n' Andy.

Not surprisingly, people still enjoyed going to the movies as well, if only to escape the pressures of life for a little while. To draw in viewers during this era, Hollywood would hold sweepstakes and drawings for prize money at movie theaters. The beloved Wizard of Oz was released toward the end of the Great Depression, in August 1939, and sung by Judy Garland, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The Dust Bowl

1930s America was also devastated by the Dust Bowl, a series of dust storms brought on by a lengthy drought in the Midwest and Southern Plains regions of the United States. Heavy wind conditions across millions of acres of overcultivated and dry ground in the country's agricultural belt caused massive dust storms that killed people, livestock, and crops.

Many farming families of the plains left their land in search of work and better living conditions. Nicknamed "Okies" because many came from Oklahoma, they actually came from other states as well, including Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. An estimated 2.5 million people fled the Dust Bowl, making this migration the largest in American history.

Many refugees went to California, which at the time had a reputation for abundant opportunities and resources. However, there weren't enough jobs in California for the refugees who arrived there, and pay was low. As a result, many continued living in poverty, making their homes in tents and makeshift towns.

These events of the "Dirty Thirties" influenced many artists. For example, the Dust Bowl and the plight of the Okies was the inspiration behind John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath. Woody Guthrie, a folk musician, created an album titled Dust Bowl Ballads in 1940 that told about the hardships the refugees endured.

The Dust Bowl compounded the effects of the Great Depression. To counteract these effects, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced The New Deal, a series of programs, projects, and reforms intended to help Americans get back on their feet. One of the notable projects of the New Deal was the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided jobs to the unemployed. These jobs focused on building the nation's infrastructure and promoting the arts. The Social Security Act was also introduced in the New Deal.

The United States Social Security Death Index, available for free on FamilySearch.org, is another resource to research your ancestors.

The Start of World War II

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, on September 3, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and New Zealand declared war on Germany. World War II had begun. Other countries joined both sides of the war in the months and years that followed, with the United States entering the conflict in December 1941.

At the end of the 1930s in America, having survived a depression and a severe drought, our ancestors would again prove their resilience in the 1940s. With the Second World War looming internationally, the American people rallied around a common cause. The war marked the end of the Great Depression. With government-funded factories and millions of soldiers deployed overseas, employment rates slowly rose, and the standard of living rose with it.

At the beginning of this turning point in American history and culture, census takers arrived in 1940 on our ancestors' doorsteps.

How did your ancestors answer the questions in the 1940 census? Find out by searching the 1940 United States census records for free on FamilySearch.org.

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Life at the Time: 1930s America and the 1940 United States Census * FamilySearch

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The 1930s had a great influence on the 1940 United States Census. See what you can learn about your ancestors' lives with a historic take on the census.

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Another interesting fact I found was that many people left their homes during the Dust Bowl, hoping for a better life in California. They thought they could find jobs and good land, but a lot of them were disappointed. There weren’t enough jobs, and they ended up living in tents or poor towns. Even though they struggled, they still believed in the idea of a better future, which is a big part of the American Dream.

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One cool thing I learned is that fast food became a big part of the American Dream in the 1950s. In 1955, McDonald’s was officially founded by Ray Kroc. People could now get quick, cheap meals, like burgers for only 15 cents. To me, this shows how the American Dream started to be about convenience and a busy lifestyle. Eating out became more normal for families, and fast food places became part of everyday American life.

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1950s Fun Facts: Pop Culture & Historical USA Trivia

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No matter where you were or what you were doing, the 1950s certainly was an exciting time to be alive. Explore 1950s fun facts with GenealogyBank!

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Another interesting fact is that the U.S. created NASA in 1958. This was a big deal because it showed how Americans believed in science, progress, and reaching new goals, like going to space. To me, this means the American Dream wasn’t just about money or jobs anymore. It was also about doing amazing things that had never been done before, like landing on the moon.

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"The Jazz Age"
"The Roaring 20s"

(1920–1940)

"The New Negro Movement"
1919-1925

Prohibition
1920-1933

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1. Black cultural movement in Harlem, New York
2. Some poetry rhythms based on spirituals and jazz, lyrics on the blues, and diction from the street talk of the ghettos
3. Other poetry used conventional lyrical forms

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James Weldon Johnson

Claude McKay

Countee Cullen

Langston Hughes (poetry)

Zora Neale Hurston

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One interesting thing I learned is that the Harlem Renaissance gave African Americans a chance to show their talents and dreams through music, writing, and art. Before this time, Black voices weren’t often heard or respected, but during the Harlem Renaissance, that changed. People like Langston Hughes wrote poems that made others feel proud to be Black.

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Another fact that stood out to me is how many African Americans moved to Harlem during the Great Migration to chase a better life. In 1914, only about 50,000 Black people lived there, but by 1930, the number grew to 200,000. They were looking for jobs, equal rights, and a chance to live with more respect and freedom.