Transcendentalism Dbq

Throughout history, nature often served as an escape, as well as a point of intrigue, from reality to focus on what truly mattered in life. For the transcendentalists, the importance of nature itself was central to their movement. Furthermore, nonconformity, self reliance, free thought, confidence, and the importance of nature were also central to transcendentalists goals and desires. With the changing appearence of America due to the Industrial Revolution, transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, encouraged people to turn back to nature, despite America increasingly turning away from it. Furthermore, instead of simply talking about the importance of nature and appreciating its beauty, some transcendentalists (such as Henry David Thoreau)

went out a lived minimally in nature. The Industrial Revolution decreased the quality of human interaction and emotion which upset transcendentalists as they supported free thought and confidence. The theme of Americans turning away from nature, despite its expanding territory, to join the “machine” of society during the Industrial Revolution decreased the value of human interaction and emotion and American’s appreciation for nature upset many transcendentalists and therefore formed the basis of the transcendentalist movement.
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on transcendentalism.
Paraphrase: Why do we obsessively focus on the past? Why must we look at history the way our fathers did? Why can’t we enjoy an original experience with the universe? (“Nature” 509)
My Point: Reflecting evolving manufacturing techniques in the Industrial Revolution resulting in unique ways of producing goods, Emerson encourages people in his essay “Nature” to enjoy an unique relation to nature.
Quote: “Near the end of March, 1845, I borrowed an axe and went down to the woods by Walden Pond, nearest to where I intended to build my house and began to cut down some tall arrowy white pines…” (Walden Pond 879)
My Point: During the Industrial Revolution, material came from the global market and were imported using trains and canals. These trains and canals were part of the infrastructure developed during the Industrial Revolution. Thoreau revolted against the importation of goods by using materials from sites near his cabin in order to build it.
Summary: Thoreau explains that he paid nothing for curtains and has no need for them because there is nobody to shut out.

He would rather retreat behind the curtain of nature. (Walden Pond 893-894)

My Point: Thoreau contrasts the excess produced in the Industrial Revolution with the minimalism he lives under in Walden.

Quote: “No longer was America a nation of farmers; it was instead a nation of industry, of mills, factories, and stockholders.” (“Transcendentalism” 850)

My Point: A central theme of the Industrial Revolution was conformity. For example, those who conformed by moving to cities to glean factory jobs therefore became part of the “machine” of society, which transcendentalists vehemently opposed.

My Point: By the “machine” of society, I mean society as something that ruthlessly works in order to produce something without taking emotions into account.

Quote: “Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.” (Walden Pond 885)

My Point: Emerson explains that the inventions of the Industrial Revolution are nothing more than a distraction and that nature should be our main focus as a serious and exceedingly important thing.

The impact of America expanding its territory on

transcendentalism.
Quote: “Few adult persons can see nature” (“Nature 510)
My Point: Society and industry are such large parts of American life that many can no longer see the natural world and appreciate its beauty.
My Point: America expanded its territory using justification such as Manifest Destiny, or the idea that expanding US territory from coast to coast was a God-Given right. Additionally, much of this land was used for manufacturing and plundering nature for its raw materials.
Quote: “Nature, in its ministry to man, is not only the material, but it is also the process and the result.” (“Nature” 512)
My Point: With the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, settlers stripped raw materials from the earth, causing considerable damage to nature in the process. In this case, instead of respecting nature, people took what they wanted instead of recognizing possible consequences.
Supporting Paraphrase: Wind carries seeds to fertile lands as well as condensation to fields. The sun evaporates large bodies of water and ice evaporates to form rain which feeds plants. These plants then feed the animals. (“Nature” 512)
My Point: While the United States was increasingly turning away from nature, transcendentalists were turning towards it and recognized the importance of nature in order to ensure our own individuality and creativity.
Results of the Industrial Revolution and transcendentalist opposition.
Paraphrase: When at war, men are machines. (“Civil Disobedience” 844)
My Point: As America was increasingly turning towards industrialism, and people were moving to cities in order to work in factories as opposed to their traditional farms in the countryside, people increasingly became part of the “machine” of industrialism. The same happened when men went to war. Lacking emotion and appreciation for the value of human life, men went to war, fought, and died.
Quote: “As if the main objects were to talk fast and not to talk sensibly” (Walden Pond 885-886)
My Point: The Industrial Revolution drew attention away from human interaction and emotion therefore decreasing the quality of human interaction through inventions such as the telegraph.
Supporting Quote: “Thoreau recognized that industrialization had a grip on the country and that people’s labor was being exploited to feed the system. His answer was deliberate living…” (“Transcendentalism” 850)
Quote: Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater.” (“Self Reliance” 551)
My Point: Joint-stock companies were central to banking during the Industrial Revolution. However, Emerson explains that this banking system resulted in a lack of creativity and individuality.
Quote: “This conformity makes them not false in a few particulars, authors of a few lies, but false in all particulars.” (“Self Reliance” 553)
My Point: Conformity contributes to the downfall of individuality and creativity. In order to be a true individual, one must be a nonconformist, confident, and self reliant.
My Point: As factories progressively created generic goods at a faster rate, the value of unique goods decreased as cheaper goods were more widely accessible. This therefore resulted in a lack of individuality as everyone was using the cheaper goods instead of the unique goods previously created by artisans.
Paraphrase: A weak or complete lack of government is best.

(“Civil Disobedience” 843)

My Point: Known as the era of the “common man”, the 1820s and 1830s in America experienced an increasing number of new laws benefiting the common man, including the elimination of property requirements in many states to vote. The rise of the common man resulted in a further lack of individuality, which transcendentalists did not support. Therefore, since the government assisted in the creation of the common man, transcendentalists did not support the government because it encouraged a lack of individuality as well as conformity.

Quote: “These people must cease to hold slaves, and to make war on Mexico, though it cost them their existence in people.” (Civil Disobedience” 846)

Summary: Thoreau argues that the northerners and southerners rely on each other for successful commerce and agriculture, which are more important to them than humanity. This commerce and agriculture are more important to the men than justice for men and the end of the war with Mexico. (“Civil Disobedience”

846)
My Point: Lords of the Loom and Lords of the Lash refers to when northerners relied on southern cotton to produce materials in their factories during the early years of northern manufacturing. The power and greed that resulted from this system overpowered justice and humanity. This contributed to the necessity of turning back to nature and people's roots in order to recognize what is truly important in life.
Conclusion
The transcendentalist influence on American culture extends beyond the mid 19th century by impacting other authors as well as reform movements throughout history. One of teh most significant impacts of the transcendentalist movement is Mark Twain’s classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. An example of the transcendentalist impact on Huckleberry Finn includes Sherburn’s speech on human nature in chapter twenty-two. In this speech, he condemns the coward and mob mentality present in the average man. This condemnation was also supported by many transcendentalists. Furthermore, as Huck grows up over the curse of the novel, he slowly realizes that what he thought was right when he was little might not be what he believes now and faced the mental conflict of which perspective to believe. The transcendentalist movement extends far beyond authors Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Strongly influenced by transcendentalist thought, Emily Dickinson’s poetry often focused on nature and desire (“Transcendentalism” 849). More recently, in the book The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr., edited by Clayborne Carson, Carson explores the idea that transcendentalist thought influenced Martin Luther King Jr. (“Transcendentalism” 849). Many transcendentalists homes are also historical landmarks and may be toured. Transcendentalist thought may be applied to everyday occurrences and issues; transcendentalists bold thought may serve as an inspiration for us to step out of our comfort zone and take the lead in our lives.