What was transcendalism?

Answer 1

Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement in 19th-century America that emphasized individual intuition, spirituality, and a connection with nature over institutionalized religion and societal norms. Key figures of transcendentalism included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Their works sought to promote self-reliance, nonconformity, and the belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature.