“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson summarizes almost perfectly the Transcendentalist movement‚ for which he was the central guiding figure. Transcendentalism is a literary‚ spiritual‚ and social revolution based on the ideals of self-reliance‚ self-admiration‚ determination‚ and a loving connection with and a deep respect for nature and all its inhabitants. There were many other extremely influential and recognizable
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Between 1825 and 1850 many reform movements gained momentum and began to transform the laws and institutions of the United States. These reform movements were spurred largely by the Second Great Awakening which‚ because religion was moving into a more liberal light‚ spread a contagious desire of reform nationwide and allowed for the bettering of American lives. Among the reform movements driven by the Great Awakening was a rise in anti-slavery supporters‚ vast women’s rights movements‚ and reform
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had far better all die -die immediately‚ than live slaves‚ and entail your wretchedness upon your posterity.” he wanted something to be done about the issue‚ because african americans were citizens‚ but were treated as much lower than that. Orestes Brownson was critical of contemporary reformers who advocated only individual or "internal" change because it did not help everyone and people were still left “to toil”. Those who only were seeking personal reform were not helping the common good of
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Brook Farm‚ disregarded democratic practices and created little communal societies specifically for the “highest physical‚ intellectual‚ and moral education”[E]. These utopias were widely criticized for their ridiculousness. Specifically Orestes A. Brownson accused the new societies of “disowning the past” to create a new society [G]. These communities rejected democratic ideals outright. They put away cooperation and created a harsh competition that led to the eventual downfall of all of
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life and celebrated the truth found in nature and in personal emotion and imagination. This created the idea that everyone had the chance to change for the better. Transcendentalism was supported by Ralph Waldo Emerson‚ a New England writer. Orestes Brownson was also a big supporter of transcendentalism (DOC. G). Henry David Thoreau put the idea of self-reliance into practice. Abandoning community life‚ he built himself a
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In the years following the Second Great Awakening of the United States‚ numerous reform factions began to spring up around the country‚ fueled by recent evangelical ideals. Seeking to improve and expand democratic ideals‚ many of these factions undertook drastic measures to achieve what they believed to be a proper aspiration. Nevertheless‚ it would be farfetched to claim that such reform movements within the US resulted in any positive outcomes‚ and it would be much more logical to claim that many
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Hoefnagel Writing 1010-002 Professor Carpenter April 23‚ 2001 Within our society‚ education is seen as the number one priority. Orestes Brownson commented that “every child is born with as good a natural right to the best education that community can furnish‚ as he is to a share of the common air of heaven or the common light of the sun” (Brownson‚ 1839‚ p. 277). Throughout the history of public education‚ schools have been used as a tool for correcting society’s woes and balancing economic
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women of Texas fought great battles in order to gain civil liberties. Even though women were seen as partners in land labor and expected to contribute during the settlement of Texas‚ women were seen as unfit and too frail to partake in politics. Orestes Brownson‚ a religious author and activist of those times stated “We do not believe women . . . are fit to have their own head. Without masculine direction or control‚ she is out of her element and a social anomaly -- sometimes a hideous monster.” The
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Fuller‚ from Women in the Nineteenth Century • Fanny Fern selections in anthology • Frederick Douglass‚ Narrative of the Life • Harriet Jacobs‚ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl • Sojourner Truth‚ two versions of “Ain’t I a Woman?” • Orestes Brownson‚ “The Labouring Classes” • Rebecca Harding Davis‚ “Life in the Iron Mills” • Emily Dickinson‚ “” (poems covered by Professor Bradley) Topics to Review • The sublime • The uncanny • Romantic ideas about nature • Romantic ideas about
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Chapter 4: Early Nineteenth Century - American Transcendentalism (AT): A Brief Introduction Paul P. Reuben Note: Nineteenth Century American Transcendentalism is not a religion (in the traditional sense of the word); it is a pragmatic philosophy‚ a state of mind‚ and a form of spirituality. It is not a religion because it does not adhere to the three concepts common in major religions: a. a belief in a God; b. a belief in an afterlife (dualism); and c. a belief that this life has consequences
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