Literary History of the American Revolution

The "Literary History of the American Revolution" is a significant work by Moses Coit Tyler, a U.S. literary historian. Published in 1897, it was a groundbreaking intellectual history focusing on the period between 1763 and 1783. Tyler's approach emphasized the use of essays, pamphlets, and satirical writings to understand the ideas of the era, broadening the scope of historical research. This work was influenced by German cultural history and meticulously utilized primary sources.1

During the American Revolution, literature served as a powerful tool. Writers like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine were instrumental in shaping colonial sentiment. Franklin's writings, including his almanacs and autobiography, offered practical advice and articulated the colonists' cause. Thomas Paine's pamphlets, such as Common Sense and The American Crisis, were highly effective in galvanizing support for independence and sustaining morale during the war. Poetry also played a role, with figures like Philip Freneau and Phillis Wheatley using verse for propaganda and to reflect on the American scene and the struggle for freedom.234