Walt Whitman was a great American because he was a patriot who was a voice for the new American ideals and spoke for the people in challenging aristocratic influence on the lives of the ordinary man. Whitman's story is a true American story. He was born of modest means, both financial and intellectual, and through determination and honor he became one of America's greatest literary writers. He became known as America's poet long after his death thanks to close study of his work by later generations who realized how remarkably accurate his account of American life was. His first volume of poetry "Leaves of Grass" was heavily criticized for its vulgar and suggestive content as well as creating a new style of writing, called Free Verse, which ignored the traditional rules of poetry. Yet he later produced 7 different revisions of the book to include some of the most patriotic poetry in American history. He was a poet who called on Americans to take decisive action to create a sense of self and country. Whitman had opinions on current issues such as slavery and women's rights. Whitman and America flourished simultaneously. Whitman's growth as an emerging poet parallels America's turbulent evolution, through the Civil War and the country's formative years. Whitman paints a portrait of America with brutal honesty and his voice is so fresh and new that it cannot be ignored. (Zwonitzer, Wignot. Walt Whitman: Poet of Eternity)In 1833, at just 11 years old, Whitman was taken out of school to go to work and help support his large family. He worked as an errand boy for a law firm and later completed an apprenticeship at a local printing company. Even though he was no longer in school, his thirst for knowledge was still present. Whitman was... middle of paper... the faces of the dead and dying pierced the joyful heart that was Walt Whitman. These experiences lead to a new book of poetry added to “Leaves of Grass.” “Drum Taps” contains 43 poems about the glory and tragedy of war. Whereas before he wrote about voices singing in unison, he now wondered: Would this song of unity be stifled forever? “A year that trembled and tottered beneath me! Your summer wind is warm enough, yet the air I breathed chilled me, A slight darkness fell across the sun and obscured me, Shall I change my triumphant song? I ask myself, must I really learn to sing the cold songs of defeat? And sullen anthems of defeat? (Leaves of Grass, 261) After the assassination of Whitman's beloved President Lincoln, another book of poetry was added to "Leaves of Grass." “Remembrances of President Lincoln” contains the ever-famous “Oh Captain!” My captain!”