Part one of term paper
"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" As Ralph Waldo Emerson concluded his lecture at Harvard in 1837, he issued this challenge to all men, arguing for a ...

Part two of term paper
... European style, transcendentalism was a way to achieve literary independence. Writers, poets, and musicians alike wanted to develop a style that all could call “American.” Spawned from the writings of the era, the other aspect of this theory is that it existed as a form of religion and spirituality. Social reform later grew from these beliefs, such as anti-slavery and women’s rights movements. So, what set off these changes in our society? Many trace the roots of these events bac ...