Historical Context of the Transcendentalism
What is happening in America during this time?
John O'Sullivan made the term "Manifest Destiny" to represent the American's divine right to expand the nation as far as possible. Americans believed that they were the better, having democracy rather than: "where men were led on by hundreds of thousands to slay one another, dupes and victims to emperors, kings, nobles, demons in the human form called heroes" (O'Sullivan).
Map showing American expansion in the 1800s. This map shows that the U.S. was not acquired all at once, but in sections.
(Map of the United States)
(Map of the United States)
During this period, America's expansion westward was an important part of its identity. Expansion caused many conflicts between the United States, the Native Americans, and even the Mexicans. All this exploration caused a more materialism, which transcendentalists sought to avoid (Transcendentalism Gale).
This video explains the expansion of the United States in further detail.
(Expansion of the United States)
(Expansion of the United States)
Page made by Ashley Z.