AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Transcendentalism (Day 108/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of Transcendentalism in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Asher Durand, Kindred Spirits, Wikimedia Commons

Similar to Romanticism, a new philosophical and literary movement known as Transcendentalism emerged in the early 1800s. It emphasized the importance of the individual, intuition, and connection with nature. 

Portraits of American Transcendentalists (clockwise from top left): George Ripley, Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elizabeth Peabody (Courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division) Gilder Lehrman

In literature, transcendentalist writers, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, focused on themes of self-reliance, self-discovery, and self-expression. 

Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Wikimedia Commons

Transcendentalists maintained a strong connection to nature. They saw nature as a source of truth and a link to the divine. They believed they could gain a deeper understanding of the universe by immersing themselves in nature.

Margaret Fuller, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, Wikimedia Commons

Additionally, many transcendentalists celebrated nonconformity and were critical of established institutions, including organized religion and government. Some, including Margaret Fuller, were motivated to participate in reform movements such as abolitionism and women’s rights. 

As part of the developing American national culture, transcendentalists provided an outlet for creative expression. Their emphasis on individualism and nature was evident through writings that continue to influence American culture.

Join me tomorrow as I explain Utopian Communities in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!