In his work, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville was particularly struck by how empowered the American people felt, like they could do or be anything, not matter their status. He wrote, ” In some countries, a power exists which, though it is in a degree foreign to the social body, directs it, and forces it to pursue a certain track. In others, the ruling force is divided, being partly within and partly without the ranks of the people. But nothing of the kind is to be seen in the United States; there society governs itself for itself.” . . . The people reign in the American political world as the Deity does in the universe. They are the cause and the aim of all things; everything comes from them, and everything is absorbed in them.” –Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1832Links to an external site. Of course, he also was struck by what he called the “equality of conditions,” which we know was not the case, but the principle that Americans of every walk of life seemed to have a zeal for their own importance reflects well the Romantic era’s emphasis on the unlikely hero, the senses over common sense, and the divine spark in all humanity. This doc set showcases this sentiment in 3 different ways…the genuine Romanticism of American literature, the spark of something “beyond” in slave life, and the zest for new life that shaped westward expansion. Now, tell us a story: On a dark and stormy night, a band of very diverse travelers seeks refuge in a tavern called The Leaky Antebellum. In this setting, their physical, social, and legal differences are of no consequence. In chatting to pass the time and get warm, they realize they have a great deal in common…their world-view. All children of this “Romantic” era, they believe in the unseen, cultivate their senses, fight against fate to make their own…they are bold, emotional, vibrant people. And like all good travelers thrown together by circumstance, they tell each other stories about themselves and their corner of this world. There are two women, obviously recent transplants from a plantation in Georgia, who share their stories about faith and magic (see Unchained Humanity). Two men, both of whom stink to high heaven and reek of adventure, regale the others with tales of their mining adventures (see Feast or Famine). A friendly fellow, a recent immigrant from the far North, shares his story of building a new life (see Promised Land). And a somber man, pen and notebook in hand, tells the others not of himself, but of the fantastic and terrifying corners of the human mind, such as those recounted in the Hudson Valley. (see Romanticism Realized). For this essay, “paint” a portrait of abm America, much as the artists you examined in FTR did. To do so, write the story they tell each other on this night in The Leaky Antebellum. Focus on the themes of the Romanticism era/movement that we see in all these docs. Use precise examples and meaty details from these stories to bring your people and their tales to life. This is a creative assignment (not a summary or analysis), so get into the story and into the heads of these diverse people. Do not use outside sources. Please cite sources within the provided documents.