New England Transcendentalists

The New England Transcendentalists were a 19th-century intellectual movement centered in Massachusetts who believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature. They emphasized intuition, individualism, and self-reliance over tradition and societal expectations. Influential figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau challenged materialism and promoted personal spiritual growth, nature connection, and social reform. Their ideas helped shape American thought by encouraging people to trust their inner voice and seek a deeper understanding of life beyond material pursuits.