1. The American Transcendentalists 1830 to 1860 By Lexie Kennedy

2. What is Transcendentalism? From a recent edition of Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 1: A philosophy that emphasizes the a priori conditions of knowledge and experience or the unknowable character of ultimate reality or that emphasizes the transcendent as the fundamental reality 2: a philosophy that asserts the primacy of the spiritual and transcendental over the material and empirical 3: the quality or state of being transcendental From a recent edition of Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 1: A philosophy that emphasizes the a priori conditions of knowledge and experience or the unknowable character of ultimate reality or that emphasizes the transcendent as the fundamental reality 2: a philosophy that asserts the primacy of the spiritual and transcendental over the material and empirical 3: the quality or state of being transcendental

3. And in plain English… The Transcendentalists can be understood in one sense by their context -- by what they were rebelling against, what they saw as the current situation and therefore as what they were trying to be different from.The Transcendentalists can be understood in one sense by their context -- by what they were rebelling against, what they saw as the current situation and therefore as what they were trying to be different from. The Transcendentalists were a generation of well educated people who lived in the decades before the American Civil War. They were mostly New Englanders and wanted to create a uniquely American body of literature. It was already decades since the Americans had won independence from England. Now, it was time for literary independence.The Transcendentalists were a generation of well educated people who lived in the decades before the American Civil War. They were mostly New Englanders and wanted to create a uniquely American body of literature. It was already decades since the Americans had won independence from England. Now, it was time for literary independence. They were a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (my words, not necessarily theirs) in a way that took into account the new understandings their age made available. For example, the idea of an in- dwelt God.They were a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (my words, not necessarily theirs) in a way that took into account the new understandings their age made available. For example, the idea of an in- dwelt God. The Transcendentalists can be understood in one sense by their context -- by what they were rebelling against, what they saw as the current situation and therefore as what they were trying to be different from.The Transcendentalists can be understood in one sense by their context -- by what they were rebelling against, what they saw as the current situation and therefore as what they were trying to be different from. The Transcendentalists were a generation of well educated people who lived in the decades before the American Civil War. They were mostly New Englanders and wanted to create a uniquely American body of literature. It was already decades since the Americans had won independence from England. Now, it was time for literary independence.The Transcendentalists were a generation of well educated people who lived in the decades before the American Civil War. They were mostly New Englanders and wanted to create a uniquely American body of literature. It was already decades since the Americans had won independence from England. Now, it was time for literary independence. They were a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (my words, not necessarily theirs) in a way that took into account the new understandings their age made available. For example, the idea of an in- dwelt God.They were a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (my words, not necessarily theirs) in a way that took into account the new understandings their age made available. For example, the idea of an in- dwelt God.

4. "We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds...A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men.” -Emerson Transcendentalists also believed that at the level of the human soul, all people had access to divine inspiration and sought and loved freedom and knowledge and truth. Transcendentalists also believed that at the level of the human soul, all people had access to divine inspiration and sought and loved freedom and knowledge and truth. Most of the Transcendentalists became involved as well in social reform movements. Most of the Transcendentalists became involved as well in social reform movements. - especially anti-slavery and women's rights. - especially anti-slavery and women's rights. So, those institutions of society which supported segregation or differences in the ability to be educated, to be self-directed, were institutions to be reformed. So, those institutions of society which supported segregation or differences in the ability to be educated, to be self-directed, were institutions to be reformed. Women and African-descended slaves were human beings who deserved more ability to become educated, to fulfill their human potential to be fully human. Women and African-descended slaves were human beings who deserved more ability to become educated, to fulfill their human potential to be fully human. Transcendentalists also believed that at the level of the human soul, all people had access to divine inspiration and sought and loved freedom and knowledge and truth. Transcendentalists also believed that at the level of the human soul, all people had access to divine inspiration and sought and loved freedom and knowledge and truth. Most of the Transcendentalists became involved as well in social reform movements. Most of the Transcendentalists became involved as well in social reform movements. - especially anti-slavery and women's rights. - especially anti-slavery and women's rights. So, those institutions of society which supported segregation or differences in the ability to be educated, to be self-directed, were institutions to be reformed. So, those institutions of society which supported segregation or differences in the ability to be educated, to be self-directed, were institutions to be reformed. Women and African-descended slaves were human beings who deserved more ability to become educated, to fulfill their human potential to be fully human. Women and African-descended slaves were human beings who deserved more ability to become educated, to fulfill their human potential to be fully human.

5. The Big Three Walt Whitman Henry David Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. Walt Whitman Born May 31, 1819 Died March 26, 1892 Died March 26, 1892 “Leaves of Grass” Born May 31, 1819 Died March 26, 1892 Died March 26, 1892 “Leaves of Grass” “I say that democracy can never prove itself beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly grows its own forms of art, poems, schools, theology, displacing all that exists, or that has been produced anywhere in the past, under opposite influences.”

7. Ralph Waldo Emerson “Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” Born May 25, 1803 Born May 25, 1803 Died April 27, 1882 Died April 27, 1882 Attended Harvard College at age 14.Attended Harvard College at age 14. Poet, essayist, and lecturerPoet, essayist, and lecturer “Nature”“Nature” September 1836, founded the Transcendental ClubSeptember 1836, founded the Transcendental Club Born May 25, 1803 Born May 25, 1803 Died April 27, 1882 Died April 27, 1882 Attended Harvard College at age 14.Attended Harvard College at age 14. Poet, essayist, and lecturerPoet, essayist, and lecturer “Nature”“Nature” September 1836, founded the Transcendental ClubSeptember 1836, founded the Transcendental Club

8. Henry David Thoreau “Simplify, simplify, simplify” Born July 12, 1817Born July 12, 1817 Died May 6, 1862Died May 6, 1862 On Walden Pond, “Civil Disobedience”On Walden Pond, “Civil Disobedience” Lived two years on Walden Pond on land owned by EmersonLived two years on Walden Pond on land owned by Emerson Born July 12, 1817Born July 12, 1817 Died May 6, 1862Died May 6, 1862 On Walden Pond, “Civil Disobedience”On Walden Pond, “Civil Disobedience” Lived two years on Walden Pond on land owned by EmersonLived two years on Walden Pond on land owned by Emerson