Unit 4: Topic 9 - The Development of an American Culture Flashcards
What was the American Renaissance?
The “Romantic Era,” or “American Romanticism,” in the United States was largely known as the “American Renaissance.”
The idea of the renaissance originated from the European Enlightenment and Industrialism.
The American Renaissance focused on individuality, exploration of the self, and the importance and beauty of the natural world. It rejected the ideas of modernity, rationalism, and religious rigidity.
How did American Renaissance shape American culture?
The American Renaissance shaped American culture through ideas of individuality and the rebirth of the human self.
During this time, Americans worked hard to form their own culture reflecting their values and sense of personhood.
The American Renaissance movement advocated for social reforms, free religion, and the abolition of slavery.
Who was Ralph Waldo Emerson?
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American Transcendentalist Writer and Essayist.
He was credited with paving the way for the creation of the American Renaissance.
Emerson encouraged other artists to examine their national identity and leave European ideals behind through his essays.
In one of his most famous essays “Self-Reliance,” Emerson states that he wants people to avoid conformity and to do their “own thing”
What was Transcendentalism?
Transcendentalism was a movement that promoted one’s intuition over logic and truth. It emphasized the idea of spiritual thinking instead of scientific thinking, the belief in human perfectibility, and the power and beauty of nature.
Why did Utopian Communities form?
Utopian Communities formed because there were some people who wanted to separate themselves from the advancing world (due to ideas like industrialization, Romanticism, etc.).
Some examples of Utopian Communities in the 19th century were the Shakers, Latter-Day Saints (modern-day Mormons), Oneida, and Brooks Farm.
Many of these communities failed because of individualism. Utopian Communities were also rare because most Americans would rather participate in efforts to reform society, rather than withdraw from it.
How did mass immigration affect life within the United States?
Great Irish Famine (1842-1852): Ireland suffered a period of starvation, disease, and emigration because of a disease that affected the potato crop–a source that a third of Ireland’s population was dependent upon.
The first mass migration of Irish people to the United States consisted of impoverished Catholic farmers and laborers (almost two million immigrants)
Many of these immigrants were illiterate and spoke only Irish so it was difficult for them to find jobs. Many existing unskilled workers in America feared losing their jobs to these Irish immigrants willing to work for less than the going rate.
The Irish faced religious prejudice because the majority were Catholic. Many Protestants feared that the Irish were under the power of the Pope and could never be truly patriotic Americans. This caused anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiment which lead to job loss.
What was the Hudson River School?
Located in the Hudson River Valley of New York, the Hudson River School was the first native school of painting in the United States.
Artists were taught how to use their skills to portray renditions of American landscapes, drawing inspiration from the Catskill region of New York.
Artists drew from the concept of the “sublime”, trying to produce the strongest emotions possible through representations of the extraordinary. This style represented Romanticism because of the emphasis on emotion rather than rationalism and accuracy.
