Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Man Thinking In the early 1800s, a new sense of literary freedom was present in America. Colonial writers of the past were strongly influenced by their European roots, and the limitations of technology had prevented printed literature from greatly diversifying. By the late 1700s, however, America's population was exploding, the printed word had become much more accessible, and newfound freedom from Great Britain created a perfect environment for the spread of new ideas. The search for a national identity and a spirit of nonconformity had entered the hearts of many Americans, such as the writers David Hume, Henry David Thoreau, George Putnam and Frederick Henry Hedge. Led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the progressive philosophy of Transcendentalism took shape in the 1820s and 1830s, and its proponents began to question the validity of religious doctrines and protest existing intellectual institutions. Transcendentalism gave America the literary identity it was looking for, and Emerson was the most important and distinguished voice among the Transcendentalists. Emerson played an important role in moving American literature away from its traditional English background and called the American citizen to action by promoting the idea of ​​individualism and man's connection to nature. By challenging the conformities created by society, celebrating trust in one's mind, and designing a practical path to peace of mind through logic and reason, Ralph Waldo Emerson's writings more clearly define the ideals of Transcendentalism. great sense of pride in the disobedience achieved by obtaining exemption from British rule, and Emerson embodied the nation's willingness to think cr...... middle of paper ......f American Literature: Volume A . Ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 243. Print.Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Nature." The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Volume A. Ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 214. Print.Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-confidence”. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Volume A. Ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 269. Print.Malachuk, Daniel S., and Alan Levine. A political companion of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Lexington, Ky: University Press of Kentucky, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. March 31, 2014.Miller, John P. Transcendental Learning: The Educational Legacy of Alcott, Emerson, Fuller, Peabody, and Thoreau. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. March 31, 2014."Transcendentalism." Encyclopædia Britannica (2013): Research Starter. Network. March 31. 2014.