While retaining many American cultural traits, Americans also felt a growing sense of independence. This resulted in the emergence of a distinct American culture, which included not just literature but also politics and other areas of life. Transcendentalism played an important role in shaping this emerging national identity. Its leading figure was Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose influential essays established him as one of the first American intellectuals. His writings were among the first to call attention to the need for self-reliance and individual conscience. He stressed the value of the natural world and encouraged his readers to appreciate nature and its beauty. His emphasis on the need to “live deep” resonated with a number of contemporary writers, notably Henry David Thoreau.
At the turn of the 20th century philosophical thinking began to change. Philosophers like Charles S. Peirce and William James were at the front line of this transformation. Their pragmatic philosophy rejected abstract theorizing about truth and knowledge and focused instead on its practical application. Philosophers like John Dewey and Richard M. Rorty expanded on this idea further, applying it to politics and education. These thinkers were concerned that the old ways of thinking had become outdated and stifled social progress.
