1. Transcendentalism 1840-1850s

2. History of the Time Dissatisfaction of present and optimism of future –Nation dealing with growing population Poverty & lack of food –Growth Railroad Telegraph Productivity – low pay/terrible conditions/children working (factory work)

3. History (cont.) –Educational Reform Public schools Led to adult education –Women’s rights Trained as teachers –Slavery – move towards Civil War

4. Literary Movement Transcendentalism as a Lit. Movement –Based on philosophy, literary theory, and religion (combined God, people, nature, and society) –View that all basic truths of the universe lie beyond the knowledge we obtain from our senses (intuition)

5. Literary Movement (cont.) –Beliefs Individual’s ability to experience God, given to all (not elite chosen, like Puritans) No part of the natural world is trivial (God and humanity and nature share a universal soul) Delved into mysteries of human personality (Emerson’s oversoul = spiritual unity all human beings have/share)

6. Literary Movement (cont.) –Characteristics Stress placed on intuition, not logic Nature as a source of goodness and inspiration (study of nature as a means of self-knowledge) Emphasis on individualism Strong belief in democracy Moral enthusiasm – not society’s material concerns (anti-materialism) Desire to reform society, create utopia Optimistic view of human capabilities Nonconformity

7. Transcendentalism Name derived from Kant (German philosopher) –He defined as the innate elements in human experience Brook Farm – outside of Boston – many Transcendentalists went to live here

8. Names Emerson Thoreau Bronson Alcott Margaret Fuller

9. Wanted to change attitudes concerning Religion Man’s relationship with man (slavery and war) Man’s relationship with nature (get back to the environment) Man’s relationship with self (individualism)