The American Revolution, followed by the wave of biblical Protestantism
known as the "Second Great Awakening," inspired the creation of a uniquely
American children’s literature.
The first American children’s books were textbooks. Not only did the book trade with
England stop during the Revolution, but American independence called for fresh
interpretations of history and geography, and a different outlook on civic duty for
American children. An entirely new society was being formed, incorporating concepts such
as dedication to "Republican virtue" and universal education.
American children, unlike their European counterparts, were encouraged to be self-reliant,
independent, self-assured and high-spirited. American books on deportment and manners were
needed for this new breed of American children.
The beginnings of a mercantile and factory system were also changing relationships within
families as women had fewer responsibilities for directly producing family goods and more
time for educating their children. Families actively sought a variety of literature for
their children, widening the market for publishers.
Literature for this audience was directed by two conflicting forces. The cultural
influences introduced by the Pilgrims and the Puritans with their emphasis on hard work,
distrust of imagination and fiction, and positive concern with family and home and
parents, remained strong. The opposing theories of John Locke, a believer in
children’s innate capacity for rational thinking, who emphasized that learning was
more effective if it was enjoyable, had been gaining strength for a century.
From the American Revolution through the 1850s, these forces warred. Out of this tension,
and out of the more general ferment of the early 1800s, came an inspired cadre of
educators and writers. The result was an explosion of American children’s literature.
One of the earliest books written specifically for American young people was a history of
their new nation.
Americans have always had a keen sense of history. The first history of Plymouth Colony,
Nathaniel Morton’s New England Memorial, was published less than 50 years
after the landing of the Mayflower. History gained an even greater importance in
the aftermath of the American Revolution and, although most history books were written for
adults, they were read by young people as well. An account of the reading habits of
American youth in the early Republic is found in Caleb Bingham’s 1805 Juvenile
letters; being a correspondence between children, from eight to fifteen years of age.
The book provides sample letters from imaginary children to equally imaginary
recipients, meant to serve as a style guide for the reader. The letters themselves contain
interesting incidental information. One sample letter, written as if "From a Miss of
twelve to her brother of fourteen years of age" reads
| Papa has lately bought a right in the library and you cannot think how glad I am.
The first book he took out is called "New-England’s Memorial." Jenny wanted
a novel; but papa said she had better read the history of her own country, than fill her
head with fiction, which would probably do her more hurt than good. Though papa says I am
quite young to begin to read history; yet, as we cannot too soon become acquainted with
our worthy forefathers, the first settlers of this country, he will permit me to read a
little in this book, every day, after I come from school. |
One of the first authors to provide a history written specifically for
younger audiences was Hannah Adams. Her Summary History of New England, aimed at
adult readers and published in 1799, traced the United States from the Mayflower to
the ratification of the Constitution. In 1805 she published An abridgement of the
history of New England, for the use of young persons, "with the ardent desire,
that it may prove useful to the rising generation." Adams relates the story of the
Pilgrims and draws this conclusion
| From the history of the first settlers of New-England, the persecution which they
suffered in their native country, the motives which induced them to emigrate, and the
pious zeal which animated them to encounter the hardships of effecting a new settlement,
the rising generation may learn the most important lessons of piety and industry.
Education and early habits form the great outline of the human character much earlier than
many are willing to admit. |
Adams’ emphasis on "lessons of piety" presaged one of the
great movements of the 19th century - the Sunday School. Growing out the
"Second Great Awakening," the schools gained great influence on the reading
habits of American children with the 1824 formation of the American Sunday School Union, a
combination of 720 separate Sunday Schools, and the founding of the American Tract
Society, with a goal of supplying evangelical literature to the entire population of the
United States, in 1827. Both organizations ran extensive publishing operations, producing
hundreds of juvenile periodicals and books. The stories contained in their early
publications often ended with conversion experiences and, occasionally, a deathbed scene
reminiscent of 17th century children’s literature.
Even if not published by the Sunday School presses, most children’s literature of the
1820s had a very overt religious purpose. |
