Declarations of Cultural Independence: The Nationalistic Imperative Behind the Passage of Early American Copyright Laws, 1783-1787

Abstract:     
This article discusses the cultural forces surrounding the passage of early American pre-Constitutional copyright laws. It argues that proponents of American copyright legislation expected it to create a new class of indigenous literati who would compose works that would put the fledgling American nation on cultural parity with the imperial powers of Europe.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 24

Keywords: copyright, state copyright laws, noah webster, joel barlow, john trumbull, copyright act of 1790, american copyright, copyright clause

JEL Classification: k10, k19, k11

Accepted Paper Series