Final answer:
The writer who is often credited with introducing the sea, forest, and American history into the American novel is Nathaniel Hawthorne. Authors like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Twain also contributed significantly to the inclusion of natural and historical themes in American literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The writer who introduced the sea, the forest, and American history into the American novel was Nathaniel Hawthorne. However, many other authors also infused the American literary scene with similar themes around this time. For instance, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were known for their ecocritical voices and transcendentalist views, particularly in works like 'Walden' and the essay 'Nature'. Their approaches to literature emphasized the importance of natural experiences in human existence. Additionally, Mark Twain, a key figure in American Literary Realism, famously used the Mississippi River as a representation of American ideals in nature, particularly in his novel 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.
These authors, among others, were pivotal in shaping an American literary tradition that was deeply intertwined with its natural landscape and history, signaling a shift away from European influences and the creation of a distinct American voice in literature, during a period of rapid industrialization and technological advancements that vastly changed the American societal landscape.