On The Rising Glory Of America

After the fall of British colonial rule on America, there was a desire to detach Americans to their British parental rule. Many desired to establish an “American Culture,” one that was to be defined by its promotion and support for the engaged, citizen who performed their republican duties. From inventing an American language and its own literature, to an American education, as well as the writings for the nation’s history were to establish this sense of “American Culture,” in which numerous individuals passionately advocated for. Unfortunately, these advocates for creating a sense of a national culture in America did not fully succeed due to the strong sentiments towards British and European culture, as well as the downplay of the role in
American poets Philip Freneau and Hugh Henry Brackenridge were authors of the poem, “On the Rising Glory of America,” a poem that emphasized that while, “Britain’s imperial sun was setting…another was rising in America,” (12). Poet Timothy Dwight took inspiration from classic epic poetry in his works while integrating biblical elements with notes of American heroism. Another poet, Joel Barlow, also took inspiration from epic poetry that focused on Columbus’ voyage while also citing the names of American heroes and places. Dwight also includes a scene of divine intervention with an angel that guides Columbus by, “insist[ing] that a glimpse of the millennium would blind him. He must be content himself with this world, transformed by American law, commerce, and literature,” and also goes to assure Columbus that, “[t]he divine ‘progressive plan’ will unfold…through cooperative (secular) efforts of bold political and commercial ‘chiefs like thee, with preserving soul’,” (18). Dwight also urged for the adoption of a “pure language” that was also universal. In comparison to Dwight, lexicographer Noah Webster devoted his life to, “studying and lecturing about American pronunciation, spelling and grammar,” (19). Webster’s success was in his The American Spelling Book and Compendious Dictionary. Webster’s goal was to create an American language was both pure and simple to reflect American virtue and independence, as “American independence would not be complete…until Americans began to speak and write in a language of their own,” (20). Emphasizing that America’s independence was dependent upon cultural independence from Britain, Webster (who had strong support from Benjamin Franklin) wanted to bring the English language back to a