Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Stephen Girard
A well-detailed biography of Girard-- a merchant, mariner, banker, philanthropist, humanitarian, and patriot.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
American popular culture was many-faceted prior to the Civil War. Find out about the explosion of the number of newspapers and magazines, the many kinds of popular entertainment, and even phrenology as entertainment.
Digital History
Digital History: Creating a Distinctly American Culture
Truly American literature based on American legend, native scenes, and American culture began to find a place in the 1820s. Read about three of the American writers that introduced American literature to a reading public.
Digital History
Digital History: American Ethnic Literature
Educated white men weren't the only ones contributing to a truly American literature. Read about the literature written by Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Irish Americans. All added to the melting pot of...
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Early National Arts and Cultural Independence
Read about the national identity developed in the early 19th century in art and literature. See how both landscape paintings and literature emphasized wilderness themes.
Harp Week
Harp Week: Immigrant and Ethnic America
Website with detailed information from Harpers Weekly on various immigrant and ethnic groups that were a vital part of American culture during the second half of the 19th century. Page features the Chinese-American experience, 1857-1892.
Digital History
Digital History: Pre Civil War American Culture: Introduction
A very brief look at the almost non-existent American culture at the end of the 18th century and leading in the the 19th.
Other
La Salle: Charles Wilson Peale at Belfield: "Your Garden Must Be a Museum" [Pdf]
This university site offers a profile of American artist/scientist/inventor, Charles Willson Peale. Points out his interest in gardens and natural history and includes a section of his "Your Garden Must be a Museum" speech.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Young Republic
This site is provided for by the Library of Congress. Painter and printer John Rubens Smith sketched rivers, roads, cities, bridges, and mills throughout America between the years 1810 and 1840. Digital images of his art are provided...