Informative Essay on American History

American Temperance Union. Formed the mid-1830s, it was a successor of the American Temperance Society. It was committed to total abstinence from liquor and sparked debates about abstinence versus moderation and wine prohibition, critics say such union promoted intolerance of the worst kind (Varon 33).

Benjamin Lundy. Known to be one of the greatest pioneer abolitionists of his time, he was a “giant among antislavery precursors” who have paved the way for the abolition of slavery (Filler 25). He was the founder of the Union Humane Society, the antislavery periodical Philanthrophist, and the National Enquirer.

New England Anti-Slavery Society. One of the first organizations formed in 1832 to rally the cause of antislavery and abolitionism. It was led by William Garrison and the beginnings of the society started with a meeting of eleven people that attracted the ridicule from the greater society (Filler 67).

William Lloyd Garrison. Uncompromising abolitionist, he demanded for the immediatism in abolition of slavery. He was co-publisher of the Genius of Universal Emancipation that discussed a vast range of antislavery matters.  He published A Brief Sketch of the Trial of William Lloyd Garrison, for an Alleged Libel on Francis Todd, of Massachusetts, about his libel case and a lot of other communications (Filler 59-60).

Frederick Douglas. His roots came from slavery with an African American mother, fro a slave he became an abolitionist orator and reformer (Lampe 136). He gave orations on issues like elevation of his raise, defended freedom of speech, denounced the fugitive slave law and pointed out the connection of slavery to colonization (Lampe 136).

Joseph Smith. American Mormon leader, he found the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. He was said to have had visions during his youth that led him to discover secret records in the form of golden tablets with sacred writings by which he translated. After his death, his newly-found religion grew in the United States and he became on of the most controversial personas of the country as well.

Washington Irving. American author and diplomat, he wrote stories like Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He worked in the American embassy in Madrid in 1826 as a diplomatic attaché. He was known to be an effective satirist and writer.

Edgar Allan Poe. One of the more popular American poet, short-story writer and critic, he was known to be the father of modern detective story. His notable works were The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym and Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, as well as The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

Herman Melville. Considered as one of the great American writers, he wrote his masterpiece Moby-Dick or The Whale in 1851. He contributed a great deal to American Literature.

Walden Pond. A cabin was built in the shore of Walden Pond by Thoreau where he remained for a couple of years, to escape a life of materialistic pursuits. His detailed journal from this experience became his masterpiece Walden.

Walt Whitman. Considered by many as the greatest American poets of them all, he sang the praises of democracy and brotherhood of man. He wrote the Leaves of Grass, one of the most influential American poems.

Francis Parkman. American historian, he was responsible for books The California and Oregon Trail. He was a founder of the Archaeological Institute of America as well as the president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. P

Hudson River School. It was a group of American landscape painters who worked from 1825 to 1875. Inspired by European influences of the pride of the homeland’s beauty, they devoted time painting landscapes instead of portraits and were attracted to Niagara Falls, Hudson River Valley and the White Mountains.

William Hickling Prescot. He was an American historian who wrote The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella and The History of Philip II. He was known to for his excellent style and presentation of material that he turned the narratives into something alive colorful and vivid.