RomanticismRomanticism

American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism

1800-18601800-1860

What 3 Elements of the Industrial What 3 Elements of the Industrial Revolution influenced the Romantic Revolution influenced the Romantic

Period?Period?

coursesite.uhcl.edu coursesite.uhcl.edu

Industrial Revolution: Progress Industrial Revolution: Progress with a Pricewith a Price

Mid-1700s. Mid-1700s. Factories and Factories and

industry replace industry replace agriculture as chief agriculture as chief means of support for means of support for lower classes.lower classes.

Americans see Americans see themselves as themselves as moving forward and moving forward and growing as a growing as a country.country.

1: Better transportation leads to 1: Better transportation leads to better exchange of ideasbetter exchange of ideas

The steamboat and The steamboat and the railroad the railroad become common. become common.

Greater Greater infrastructure infrastructure brings together brings together different parts of different parts of the country. the country.

2: More options for women2: More options for women

Typical jobs for women had been to Typical jobs for women had been to sew,“take in” laundry, work as dairy sew,“take in” laundry, work as dairy maid, or act as housekeeper or maid. maid, or act as housekeeper or maid. All of these require a stable All of these require a stable household.household.

New jobs for women were factory New jobs for women were factory work. Women could live at the work. Women could live at the factory and make their own money. factory and make their own money.

3: Poor working conditions for most3: Poor working conditions for most Lowell’s Factories Lowell’s Factories

working conditions:working conditions: A. Women worked A. Women worked

at least 12 hours a at least 12 hours a day. day.

B. Women required B. Women required to go to church; no to go to church; no male visitors male visitors allowed at allowed at factory/dormitory. factory/dormitory.

**Poor Working Conditions**Poor Working Conditions

C. Boarding house C. Boarding house rooms held up to 6 rooms held up to 6 girlsgirls

D. Average D. Average age=24; some as age=24; some as young=10 years young=10 years old. old.

http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/americanstudies/lavender/graphics/ttable.jpg

**The Mills and Factories**The Mills and Factories

http://www.laugalaekjarskoli.is/verk/NaAm2/Lowell.html

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire victims 1911

American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism

Affected by Industrial Affected by Industrial Revolution, but based Revolution, but based largely on optimismlargely on optimism

Optimism: Half empty or half full?Optimism: Half empty or half full?

Optimism—US citizens felt Optimism—US citizens felt optimistic for many reasons:optimistic for many reasons:

The little colonies beat the big British The little colonies beat the big British Empire.Empire.

Everyone can succeed. Andrew Everyone can succeed. Andrew Jackson—not an upper-class guy—Jackson—not an upper-class guy—becomes president in 1828.becomes president in 1828.

Reform movements are common.Reform movements are common.

Optimism led to the Age of Optimism led to the Age of Reform (during Romantic Reform (during Romantic

Period)Period) Prisons and Mental Prisons and Mental

InstitutionsInstitutions

Prison Reform1850s

Treatment of Mentally Ill 1840s

Age of ReformAge of Reform

Women’s Suffrage

Abolitionist movement

Idealism and Idealism and TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Idealism—philosophy based on idea that Idealism—philosophy based on idea that evidence of the divine is not found in the evidence of the divine is not found in the outer world as much as the inner world of outer world as much as the inner world of the individual.the individual. This philosophy originated This philosophy originated in Germany.in Germany.

Transcend—to move above or beyond.Transcend—to move above or beyond. Transcendentalism—philosophy based on Transcendentalism—philosophy based on

the idea that one moves beyond the the idea that one moves beyond the physical to the spiritual through physical to the spiritual through awareness. Intuition, introspection, and awareness. Intuition, introspection, and self-trust.self-trust. Many American Romantic Many American Romantic writers were also Transcendentalists.writers were also Transcendentalists.

Romanticism Romanticism

1800-1860.1800-1860. Not a Valentine’s Day idea. Not a Valentine’s Day idea. Romantic writers did share two key beliefs:Romantic writers did share two key beliefs: 1. Emotion was valued over intellect.1. Emotion was valued over intellect. 2. Basic goodness and equality were a part 2. Basic goodness and equality were a part

of everyone. of everyone.

The “Big” Romantic IdeasThe “Big” Romantic Ideas

Optimism and Individualism (not Optimism and Individualism (not conformity)conformity)

Kinship with NatureKinship with Nature The Power of Darkness (fascination The Power of Darkness (fascination

with disease, madness, death, evil, with disease, madness, death, evil, the supernatural, and the destructive the supernatural, and the destructive qualities of nature)qualities of nature)

Important Romantic Writers:Important Romantic Writers:

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau Walt Walt WhitmanWhitman

““Dark” Romantic WritersDark” Romantic Writers

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe Washington IrvingWashington Irving Nathaniel Nathaniel

HawthorneHawthorne

Tensions would lead to Civil Tensions would lead to Civil War—End of the Romantic EraWar—End of the Romantic Era