Realism in American Literature spanned the years from 1865-1900. It was a time of great turmoil in American history, with the Civil War just ended and the inevitable aftermath of so much devastation: Reconstruction and urbanization. Industrialization and technological advances were also making their marks on the American psyche. The year 1865 which marked the end of the civil war also marked an important shift from
romanticism to realism.The latter grew gradually at first, but by the 1830's it was quite strong, and in the 1890's it clearly dominated prose fiction.
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