Open AccessWilliam Bartram: a Maker and Painter of America’s Image in its Enlightenment
Author(s) -
Matthew Jagas
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the general brock university undergraduate journal of history
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2371-8048
DOI - 10.26522/gbuujh.v2i0.1483
Subject(s) - enlightenment , naturalism , painting , politics , art history , natural (archaeology) , american century , environmental ethics , age of enlightenment , history , economic history , political science , law , philosophy , epistemology , archaeology
The American Enlightenment of the eighteenth century was a critical time in the early years of the emergent nation as Americans increasingly explored and investigated all fields of knowledge, from philosophy to natural science. One lesser-known early American of the period, who was especially significant to early American natural science, was the naturalist William Bartram (1739-1823), whose most vital role in the American Enlightenment was that of helping America assert itself in a scientific world largely dominated at the time by European scientists. In this respect, Bartram reinforced the efforts of men like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin to prove America to be a capable nation able to act independently. Bartram’s work also helped to develop and advertise the image of America to the world as a young and growing nation. This paper, therefore, while first seeking to explore Bartram’s critical role as a maker and painter of America’s image during its Enlightenment, also displays some of the critical difficulties (outside of its politics) facing early America.