Essay: Colonial Literature

During the colonial period, literature was important for a few reasons. America was a new place, without much of its own history. Journals such as William Bradford's "The History of Plymouth Plantation," Sarah Kemble Knight's "Traveling in the New Land" and Cabeza de Vaca's " The Narrative of His Journey document the early history of these settlers. The three works were written about 100 years apart, and tell the journeys of three different people in three different time periods. Colonial Literature was also important for writing new law for America. "The Declaration of Independence" by Th…