1. This time period produced several famous authors including Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Thomas Paine, etc. Many of the writings of the time are written from the battlefront or from a perspective of the revolutionary. Many less famous pieces were written from English loyalists and are equally important to understanding the literature of the time.
2. Unfortunately many of the writing of the time are lost because they were written on the battlefront and mail was unlikely to be delivered John Bowater wrote, “You must not sent out of the way when anything is going home and it is at least a thousand to one you do not receive this.”
3. During this time many of the writings especially at the beginning of the revolution are call-to-arms are very stirring to the soul. They feature a strong sense of patriotism and of camaraderie among the colonists. Many of these writings are almost pleading for support and loyalty
4. "These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and women“–Thomas Paine This is an excellent example of a call-to-arms It not only calls on the potential soldiers but for others like wives and children to do whatever they can to further the revolution
5. Paine was an avid patriot and wrote some of the most stirring pieces from the time period In 1776 he wrote a 79 page pamphlet, Common Sense, a piece in which consisted of “nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense" on the idea of American independence from England.
6. Paine was an active patriot serving in Washington’s army. His writing was the most influential thing he did. He wrote the Crisis Papers which spoke out against loyalists and inspired the colonists to continue fighting
7. The Puritans also produced a great deal of literature during this time period. Plain