Spawned as a late and local manifestation of the Renaissance,

Transcendentalism swept through New England in the early 1800's (Trent 326). The term "transcendentalism" was first used by Kant, a German philosopher. It refers to the idea that matters of ultimate reality "transcend" the human experience. In American literature, the term can be defined as the belief in the genuine divinity of every man and the faith in his capability to understand immortality, the soul, and God through intuition rather than through pure reason (Vogel and Murphy 231). Socially, this revolution meant democracy, the possibility of brotherhood, and the potential balance of men. Philosophically, it meant a rebellion of the existing rationalists and skeptics. Politically and religiously, it meant the overthrow of feudal and papal tyrannies and customs (Trent 326). Writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Fuller incorporated this transcendental belief into their writings and life.

This revolt blossomed in the 1830's and 40's with William Ellery Channing's liberal preachings. Other people began to catch on to and agree with Channing's preachings. In order to exchange ideas among this group of

"Transcendentalism was neither a social, nor political, nor industrial, nor economic, nor literary, nor scientific, nor religious movement, but it was all of them at once" (Trent 327). The writers of this movement believed that since the secret voice of God is within man, he has no need to adhere to any other command, he can trust himself (Vogel and Murphy 231). Writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Fuller incorporated this transcendental belief into their writings and life.

6. Wilson, Leslie. "New England Transcendentalism." The Concord Magazine Nov. 1998: 12-13

4. Trent, William Peterfield. The Cambridge History of American Literature. New York, NY: The MacMillan Co. 1946.

1. www.GreatWomen.org/Fuller.htm. National Women's Hall of Fame. "Margaret Fuller."

"In her short life, Margaret Fuller, whose thoughts and writings inspired leaders of the women's movement, was a literary critic [for the New York Tribune], a free thinker, a transcendental leader, an editor, a teacher, and a women's rights author" (GreatWomen 1). She emphasized the philosophy of liberation among all human beings-especially women. From 1839 to 1844, she held a series of "Conversations" for the females of Boston, encouraging women to express their ideas and feelings. These discussions led Fuller to write her most famous and important work, Women in the Nineteenth Century in 1845 (GreatWomen 1). The book's message was that women should express themselves as individuals and not conform to a society of men. Margaret carried her New English transcendental ideas to Europe in 1846

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