Final answer:
The beginning of a distinctly 'American' literature can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century with writers such as Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The establishment of an American literary tradition was supported by the evolving publishing industry and technological advances, culminating in a broader acceptance and expansion of American literary culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the beginning of a distinctly 'American' literature, scholars often reference the mid-nineteenth century. This period was marked by the emergence of authors such as Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. Their original works began to carve out an American literary tradition separate from European influence, focusing on themes and settings unique to the American experience. This literary movement blossomed alongside the development of the American publishing industry, which was bolstered by the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 and additional technological advancements like steam-powered printing presses and gas-fueled lights.
The concept of American literary culture reached a point of maturity recognized by F. O. Matthiessen with his publication of The American Renaissance in 1941, acknowledging the significance of these early American authors. Despite this acknowledgement, recognition of the literary achievements of women, African-Americans, and Native Americans came much later. The evolution of American literature continued through various movements including Late Romanticism, as exemplified by writers like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, Realism, Naturalism, and into Modernism, and post-1945 literature, showcasing a diversity of voices and perspectives that contribute to the rich fabric of American literary history.