American Cultural Reform

Transcendentalism It taught that the spiritual world was more important than the physical world A belief that there is a goodness in all man and nature They trusted their inner moral spirit, feelings and emotions Supported individualism, non-conformity, Ralph Waldo Emerson led this movement

Henry David Thoreau Because Thoreau believed in the importance of individualism, he urged people not to obey laws they considered unjust I must walk toward Oregon,and not toward Europe.  Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. Henry David Thoreau Thoreau promoted the idea of civil disobedience Civil Disobedience is peacefully disobeying a law , instead of using violence Thoreau refused to pay taxes to the U.S. Government, which he said enforced slavery and wrongly went to war with Mexico Many of his ideas can be found in his book Walden

Hudson River School The Hudson River School became famous for painting nature and landscapes The school was founded by artist Thomas Cole in 1825 who was inspired by the natural beauty of New York’s Hudson River Valley

Thomas Cole In 1825, America was still a new nation just forming its own unique identity and traditions. Thomas Cole invented a new style of art, the Hudson River School – one that Americans could call their own. His groundbreaking achievements took place here in Catskill, New York, just 100 miles north of New York City.

Instead of just using nature as a backdrop, their paintings showed the power and beauty of nature, often making humans insignificant

American artist John James Audubon painted birds and other animals in nature. His Birds of America contained over 1,065 descriptions of birds, the most important work ever done on birds

American literature American writers stressed imagination, creativity, emotion and nature Edgar Allan Poe wrote terrifying horror and detective stories Many of Emily Dickinson’s poems deal with themes of death and immortality Noah Webster’s Dictionary gave American spellings and slang words…..not British

Because I could not stop for Death (712) by Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity –

music Slaves would often communicate through spiritual songs Battle Hymn of the republic was a patriotic anthem that became a song for the Union Army during the Civil War