American Culture- 1800s
American Art
American Literature Transcendentalism- knowledge should transcend the here and now, everyone possess an inner light that puts you in direct relation to God Doctrine of the Unitarian church Famous names- Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman American book- Moby Dick- Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe
Ralph Waldo Emerson To shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, — What is truth? and of the affections, — What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit.
American Religion- 2nd Great Awakening Diversity of denominations Emotion reactions to God Camp meetings Missionary Movements Reform based- anti alcohol, slavery Women and African Americans were deeply involved
American Reform Public schools American asylums- Dorthea Dix Utopian Communities- Oneida Community, Shakers Creation of higher education- Horace Mann, Noah Webster Temperance- Neal Dow Women’s rights
American Improvements Cumberland Road Lancaster Turnpike Erie Canal Clipper Ships Steamboats
American Inventions Singer sewing machine Morse’s telegraph Whitney’s Cotton Gin Slater’s Factory
Immigration Ireland German 48ers American responses: Nativism, Know Nothing Party, violence against Catholics and Immigrants
Women and Children Cult of domesticity vs domestic feminism Factory girls- Lowell Girls Families grow smaller, women marry for love Child labor- Martin Van Buren creates the ten hour work day