Transcendentalism:Transcendentalism:

Creator: Nil PatelCreator: Nil Patel

Instructor: RichardsonInstructor: Richardson

Junior Honors Language ArtsJunior Honors Language Arts

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What is it:What is it:

• Transcendentalism is Transcendentalism is

the American version of the American version of

the romantic in Europethe romantic in Europe

• It is more or less like an It is more or less like an

enlightenment that enlightenment that

comes from other comes from other

previous movementsprevious movements

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The Dawn of a new era:The Dawn of a new era:

• Transcendentalism Transcendentalism

emerges from the emerges from the

downfall of Calvinismdownfall of Calvinism

• Starts in 1836Starts in 1836

• Lasts about 24 yearsLasts about 24 years

• Triggered by a Unitarian Triggered by a Unitarian

minister named Emersonminister named Emerson

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More basic ideas:More basic ideas:

• Gave the idea that Gave the idea that

Nature is almightyNature is almighty

• Nature was thought to Nature was thought to

be godbe god

• That it always won in That it always won in

conflicts against manconflicts against man

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How was it political:How was it political:

• There were certain There were certain

complaints about people complaints about people

like Thoreau disobeying the like Thoreau disobeying the

governmentgovernment

• Certain laws like the new Certain laws like the new

fugitive slave law was of a fugitive slave law was of a

nescience to many—this nescience to many—this

was a call for certain was a call for certain

reformsreforms

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Politics Continued:Politics Continued:

• Thoreau had published Thoreau had published

“Civil Disobedience” to “Civil Disobedience” to

go against the governmentgo against the government

• The government during The government during

this era was increasing this era was increasing

power over the people and power over the people and

pressing on some rights of pressing on some rights of

the people.the people.

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How was this Social:How was this Social:

• This era had many This era had many

reforms going on due to reforms going on due to

Dorothea Dix and her jail Dorothea Dix and her jail

reforms for many peoplereforms for many people

– She reformed hospitals and She reformed hospitals and

jails for better health jails for better health

conditionsconditions

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Education reforms of society:Education reforms of society:

• In addition to day, Horace In addition to day, Horace

man and his educational man and his educational

reforms took placereforms took place

– The reforms insured better The reforms insured better

pay for teacherspay for teachers

– Better educated teachersBetter educated teachers

– Longer Longer

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Society Continued:Society Continued:

• A need for women suffrage A need for women suffrage

arosearose

• An example of this is the An example of this is the

Seneca falls ConferenceSeneca falls Conference

– Organized by Stanton and Organized by Stanton and

MottMott

– There was the signing of the There was the signing of the

declaration of sentimentsdeclaration of sentiments

• It was similar to the It was similar to the

declaration of Independancedeclaration of Independance

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What was the standard of living:What was the standard of living:

• Many people were in Many people were in

the middle classthe middle class

– There were often many There were often many

in the poorin the poor

– The morale of many was The morale of many was

lifted with this lifted with this

movementmovement

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How did this affect literature:How did this affect literature:

• Poetry became was is modern Poetry became was is modern

today: in some settings where today: in some settings where

there are two lovers yet they there are two lovers yet they

are separated for some reasonsare separated for some reasons

– Some drama stories start to Some drama stories start to

developdevelop

• There were occasional dark There were occasional dark

romanticsromantics

– Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe

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Literature affect continued:Literature affect continued:

• Many writers wrote about how Nature is very powerfulMany writers wrote about how Nature is very powerful

• One topic: how the average American should be independent One topic: how the average American should be independent

of luxuryof luxury

• American romantics wrote various inspirational worksAmerican romantics wrote various inspirational works

– Self-RelianceSelf-Reliance

– Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience

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How did Transcendentalism religious/philosophically develop?How did Transcendentalism religious/philosophically develop?

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From Puritanism to Quakerism:From Puritanism to Quakerism:

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From Quakerism to Transcendentalism: From Quakerism to Transcendentalism:

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From Unitarianism to Romanticism:From Unitarianism to Romanticism:

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From Romanticism to Transcendentalism:From Romanticism to Transcendentalism:

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What about art during What about art during

this time period:this time period:

•Art during this time period often cam Art during this time period often cam

in the form of two dimensional artin the form of two dimensional art

•PaintingPainting

•Drawing and etceteraDrawing and etcetera

•Hudson River school of Art became Hudson River school of Art became

very popular for it artists that drew and very popular for it artists that drew and

painted legendary forms of art:painted legendary forms of art:

•The art work depicted, the central idea The art work depicted, the central idea

that nature is divine that nature is divine

•The art work also portrayed how The art work also portrayed how

nature is more dominant than man in nature is more dominant than man in

any wayany way

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