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Dbq Transcendentalism

1167 Words5 Pages

William Carrasco
AP US History 1
Mr. Maniscalco
May 3, 2023

Question: To what extent did Transcendentalism impact the growing abolitionist movement in the United States?
DBQ: Transcendentalism and Abolition

After the War of 1812 an American identity started to take hold which led to Manifest Destiny which in turn led to the Mexican American War. As the United States gained more land and pushed westward many felt that religion was not being properly practiced in these new western states and territories. In turn the Second Great Awakening was born which caused the belief that the church and bible was at the center of religion to be extremely popular. Another belief that became popular is that no one knows God. Many people in New England …show more content…

Many transcendentalists were also important figures in fighting social reforms including women's suffrage, to some degree religious freedom, and abolition. Transcendentalism had a large impact on the growing abolition movement through transcendentalist beliefs spreading abolitionist ideas, and by many transcendentalists taking action against slavery. Transcendentalism helped greatly to spread the ideas of abolition across New England. At an address Ralph Waldo Emerson made on the anniversary of abolition of slavery in the British West Indies he talked about how in America everyone is promised equal rights, yet these slaves are denied these rights and are instead kept in horrible conditions. He speaks about how these conditions make him sick and that he believes everyone should get what they are promised (Document A). With Emerson speaking out about this it shows how he was a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement as he was chosen for this important speech. Being chosen for this speech he made sure to use it to continue to spread the ideas of the abolition movement, sharing the horrors of slavery to show why it should end. He also utilized the declaration of independence to show how slavery shouldn’t …show more content…

Theodore Parker dedicated a large portion of his life to transcendentalism and fighting for abolition and women’s suffrage. In particular he fought against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which made it so states had to help other states arrest runaway slaves. He also served as minister-at-large to fugitive slaves in Boston (Document B). By leading the opposition in Boston against the Fugitive Slave Act he helped show that the abolition movement was powerful and growing, especially in New England, where transcendentalism was prominent. By being minister at large to fugitive slaves he was able to provide and show the strength of the abolition movement. Another person who greatly helped the slave abolition movement was Amos Bronson Alcott. He was a transcendentalist who was also an author and an

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