1607-1776

1776-1790

1790-1820

1820-1865

1865-1900

1900-1914

1914-1945

1920s-1930s

1945-to date

1950s

1970-to date

The Colonial or early American Period

The Revolutionary Period

The Early National Period

The Romantic Period, the American Renaissance or the Age of

Transcendentalism

The Realistic Period

The Naturalistic Period

American Modernism, including

the “Lost Generation”, “Jazz Age” and Harlem Renaissance

The Contemporary Period, including

the beat writers,

postmodernism, new realism and ethnic writing