Transcendentalism was a 19th century American literary, political, and philosophical movement centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson. It praised individualism over conformity to social norms, believed people should find God through nature rather than traditions or institutions, and valued self-reliance and manual labor. Major figures included Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Amos Bronson Alcott. Transcendentalism encouraged spirituality and idealism while opposing industrialism's focus on production and social order. Adherents also participated in the abolition and women's rights movements.

1. Transcendentalism Overview

2. What is Transcendentalism?Transcendentalism is an American literary, political, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century, centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson.

3. Transcendentalism’s Chief Characteristicspraises individual worth over societycontempt for attachment to social customs and habitsbelieve in living in harmony with naturegreat dignity in manual laborrelationship with God should be personalrevolutionary thoughts and ideasrejection of customs, especially traditional european ones

4. Ralph Waldo EmersonHenry David ThoreauAmos Bronson AlcottOrestes BrownsonWilliam Henry ChanningJames Freeman ClarkeChristopher PearseCranchJohn Sullivan DwightMajor Transcendentalist FiguresConvers Francis

5. Margaret Fuller

6. William Henry Furness