FAQ About Henry David Thoreau
What is the transcendentalist movement?
The transcendentalist movement was a philosophical movement that emerged in the early-to-mid 19th century in the eastern United States. It advocated for the inherent goodness of people and nature. Transcendentalists believed that society and its institutions corrupted the purity of the individual. They emphasized self-reliance, independent thought, and the importance of spirituality as it is found in nature. Henry David Thoreau was a prominent member of this movement.
