The New England Renaissance Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Anti-Transcendentalism The Movement and The People

New England Renaissance A movement of artistic, intellectual enlightenment that took place, approximately, during the years of 1840-1860, primarily in New England. There was a flourishing of American literature, poetry, ideas, etc. It occurred at a critical time in American History

Influential People in the New England Renaissance Ralph Waldo Emerson – the primary intellectual/philosophical voice of 19th Century America – his writings Nature, “The American Scholar,” and “Self Reliance,” established the belief of individualism. True religion resides within the individual, not in religious doctrines such as Christianity, or in a church.

Influential People in New England Renaissance Henry David Thoreau – the protégé of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was also very influential. He was a proponent peaceful methods of conflict resolution, his essay, Civil Disobedience expresses these ideas and influenced both Martin Luther King and Ghandi. His work, Walden, describes the time he spent near Walden Pond conducting an experiment of simple living.

There were many other influential writers, reformists, educators, poets of this time as well, who recognized and informed people of the ills of society, and a growing discontent A general dissatisfaction existed over harsh working conditions, prohibitiveness of poverty, inadequate educational opportunities, discrimination of women, outcry over the continued existence of slavery, etc.

At the same time there was optimism in America over the progress made in science and technology. There were soil and mineral surveys, invention of machine tools and the reaper, roads, canals and railroads were being built at a phenomenal rate and the 1st telegraph line – 1844 America was ripe for reform and change and the country was on the cusp of huge changes

Romanticism This movement incorporates all of the arts, and is typically characterized by emphasis on the awesome qualities of nature. Writers during this time period, particularly, Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne also included an element of the supernatural/occult and human psychology

Transcendentalism An early 19th Century, philosophical movement that stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance. Contemplation of objects in nature could permit people to transcend the world and discover union with the ‘over-soul’ that unites us all.

Anti-Transcendentalism The anti-transcendentalist rejected the optimism of the transcendentalists and had a more pessimistic view of the world. Nature was viewed as vast and incomprehensible and reflected a struggle between good and evil. They also believed the concept of individualism of the transcendentalists encouraged depravity and selfishness Anti-transcendentalist writers include: Poe, Hawthorne and Herman Melville

A Time of Change There was a movement for reform during this time period that encompassed education, women’s rights, and civil rights among all particularly, a call for an abolition of the institution of slavery. Women did not achieve suffrage until 1920 The Emancipation Proclamation did not occur until 1862, while the Civil War still was being waged Tax supported public education came into existence

Research papers will be based upon your randomly selected author from this time period that may be either transcendentalist, anti-transcendentalist, romanticist, or someone who falls into more than one category