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1766: Samson Occom's Letter - 'I Believe it is Because I am a Poor Indian'

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1766: Samson Occom's Letter - 'I Believe it is Because I am a Poor Indian'

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Samson Occom, a Mohegan religious leader and minister, penned this powerful letter highlighting the discrimination faced by Native Americans in colonial society. His writings provide crucial insight into Native American perspectives during the colonial period.

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This foundational document, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, announced the 13 American colonies' independence from British rule. It articulated the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy that would shape the new nation.

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1777: Abigail Adams' Letter to John Adams

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1777: Abigail Adams' Letter to John Adams

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In her famous correspondence with her husband John Adams, Abigail Adams advocated for women's rights and provided valuable insights into the political and social climate during the Revolutionary period. Her famous 'Remember the Ladies' letter became an early call for women's rights in America.

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1786: Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

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1786: Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

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Written by Thomas Jefferson, this landmark legislation established the separation of church and state and protected religious freedom. It became a model for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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Thomas Jefferson's influence on these first ten amendments to the Constitution established fundamental American rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms.

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This act specified that only 'free white persons' could become naturalized citizens, reflecting the racial limitations of early American democracy. It was followed by a revised act in 1795, maintaining similar restrictions.

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Francis Scott Key wrote this poem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Initially titled 'Defence of Fort M'Henry,' it later became the United States national anthem.

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One of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's earliest poems, written when he was just ten years old, demonstrating his early talent and interest in American historical themes.

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1819: Washington Irving's 'Rip Van Winkle'

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1819: Washington Irving's 'Rip Van Winkle'

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This beloved short story about a man who sleeps through the American Revolution represents one of the first works of distinctly American literature, blending European folktale traditions with American themes and settings.

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1826: Thomas Cole's 'The Falls of Kaaterskill'

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1826: Thomas Cole's 'The Falls of Kaaterskill'

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This magnificent landscape painting exemplifies the Hudson River School art movement, celebrating America's natural beauty and reflecting the period's romantic nationalism.

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1830: James Fenimore Cooper's 'The Slaughter of the Pigeons'

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1830: James Fenimore Cooper's 'The Slaughter of the Pigeons'

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From 'The Pioneers,' this passage criticizes environmental destruction and represents early American environmental literature, showing Cooper's concern for conservation during America's rapid expansion.