Writing in the Early America facts for kids
Writing and reading in the Americas have a long history. It stretches from about 1000 BCE to around 1830 CE. During this time, early civilizations created their own ways of writing. These systems slowly changed and grew. Later, when Europeans arrived, writing became a tool for many different groups. Enslaved people used it to try and improve their lives. Women in the new American republic taught their children to read and write. This was because education was seen as very important for a strong democracy.
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Ancient American Writing
The first known writing system in ancient America appeared around 900 BCE. It was created by the Olmec people in what is now Veracruz, Mexico. We only know of one example of Olmec writing. It is on a stone called the Cascajal Block. This block dates back to 1000–900 BCE. It is the oldest piece of writing found in the Western Hemisphere. The Olmec writing often repeats certain symbols. This might mean it was a true writing system or a way to write syllables.
Zapotec Writing
The first writing system that used sounds (phonetic) in ancient America came from the Zapotec people. This was around 600 BCE. Their language used different tones, like music. It had five vowels and 25 consonants. Zapotec writers were seen as artists. They were called huezeequichi, meaning "an artist on paper." They also used their knowledge of the stars to create two calendars. One was a 260-day calendar for rituals. The other was a 365-day calendar for everyday life.
Maya Writing
The Maya civilization had one of the longest-lasting and most detailed writing systems. It was much more complex than earlier systems. It included both short and long vowels, and diphthongs (two vowel sounds together). In North America, most native writing systems developed after Europeans arrived. For example, the Cherokee people created their own writing system after seeing European writing. The forced journey of 16,000 Cherokee people on the Trail of Tears also greatly impacted their language.
Writing During Colonial Times
After 1492, European countries began to colonize the Americas. One of the first widely published books from the colonies was A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies. It was written by a Spanish friar named Bartolomé de las Casas in 1542. He wrote about the harsh treatment of indigenous peoples during colonial times. He sent his report to Prince Philip II of Spain.
In the American South, many enslaved people were not allowed to learn to read or write. However, many still found ways to learn. Being able to read and write was a powerful symbol of freedom. In 1723, a group of enslaved people in Virginia wrote a letter. They sent it to an Anglican Bishop in London. In the letter, they asked the bishop to help provide religious and reading education for enslaved children.
Writing in Early America
After the American Revolutionary War, the new United States saw education as very important. Women, especially mothers, became responsible for teaching children. They taught them how to read and become good citizens. In the 18th century, writing letters to family became very popular. This changed how people communicated. Special rules for how to write and phrase letters were developed.
