Architecture
The architecture of this period was known as Greek Revivalism. When Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State, he was in charge of the architectural layout of Washington D.C.. He chose to bring back this Greek style to provide a model for the rest of the nation and "improve the taste of his countrymen". Many federal buildings in D.C. were built according this style and served as examples for the country.
Literature
Before the Antebellum period, the literature in America was not original. It was all either imported from Europe or was influenced by European writings. During this time period, however, Americans began to create their own literary style.
This new form of American literature was based on American ideals and subjects. Popular works included biographies, autobiographies, and history books of the American Revolution and heroes of that era. Mostly, though, authors wrote American "themed" books, such as the fictional books to the left. Famous authors included: James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne,
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Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Noah Webster, and Richard Henry Dana. This list also includes Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. This book was a large success across the nation in its effort to inform the population of the terrors of slavery. It emphasized all slaves' fear of being separated from their family and presented how awfully slaves were treated. All of these authors, and more, helped to distinguish the Antebellum era's literary style.
Art
The art of this time period really helped to define the Antebellum era and its ideals. Painting was the most prominent art form and a lot of the artwork from this period was based on the Transcendentalist aspect of nature. A school of painting was founded by Thomas Cole, called the Hudson River School. This school produced works of art that depicted American landscapes and the coexistence of humans and nature. Famous artists of the Hudson River School Movement were: Thomas Sully, Rembrandt Peale, John Trumbull, and Samuel Morse (who invented the telegraph).
Another form of art emerged as this era drew closer to the Civil War. This type of art expressed the artist's aversion to slavery. They used their pieces to extract emotion and sympathy from the audience. This message is prevalent is works such as Eyre Crowe's painting, Slaves Waiting for Sale in Virginia (shown below).
Another form of art emerged as this era drew closer to the Civil War. This type of art expressed the artist's aversion to slavery. They used their pieces to extract emotion and sympathy from the audience. This message is prevalent is works such as Eyre Crowe's painting, Slaves Waiting for Sale in Virginia (shown below).