Do you ever feel that if only given a chance your generation could do much better at fixing America’s problems? That’s exactly what Emerson and his Transcendental club members thought in the 1840s. And they had the chance to try exactly that regarding both socialist and racism/slavery ideals.
Socialist Ideals
By ship, America was only a few days away from Europe. Socialists there preached that they could cure the financial ills of people everywhere. Two members of Emerson’s club launched their own commune efforts near to Concord, Massachusetts. George Ripley formed an experimental commune near Boston in 1841. Nathaniel Hawthorne bought shares in this Brook Farm venture and served as teacher and laborer. Hawthorne found it very difficult to switch daily between physical and mental tasks. Ripley would end the venture two years later, owing $17,000 in debt (a large sum in that day).
Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa May, traveled to Europe and met Charles Lane who wanted help to open a commune in America. This mystic came to America in 1843 and bought land northwest of Concord. Fruitlands observed strict dietary restrictions and used no animal labor. Their commune closed the same year. Emerson helped Alcott and his family move back to Concord.
Emerson promoted the ideas of a commune. He visited often and taught classes. Why did he and his wife Lidian never join? Lidian’s early Plymouth relative was raised by Governor Bradford. To motivate hard work Bradford gave each colonist private land. The colony survived New England winters due to this capitalist approach.
Henry Thoreau wished “to live deliberately.” He built a tiny cabin beside Walden Pond where he lived and wrote drafts for two of his books. Friends came to visit and later to remember him after his death due to TB.
Racism/Slavery
To help free slaves, the Emerson family joined Abolitionists like the notorious Captain John Brown. Thoreau invited him to supper and Emerson came, too. Henry Thoreau was a strong supporter of Brown, even writing a plea to the Federal government for his release. Brown was executed instead.
In 1862 on a speaking tour to Washington, D.C., Emerson met the President. He warned Lincoln that support from New Englanders would decline if he didn’t free the slaves. Lincoln promised to do so after a decisive battle. Emerson grieved greatly when Lincoln was killed for this brave act. After 30 years as a disbeliever, Emerson requested church membership two weeks after Lincoln’s assassination.
Read more about their social actions in this Young Adult biography: Concord Sage: Ralph Waldo Emerson Life and Times.
Mr. Emerson's Relationships 