Explain how transcendentalism and the Second Great Awakening affected the definitions of freedom. How were both movements a response to the market revolution?

Transcendentalism and the Second Great Awakening both had a significant impact on the definitions of freedom in the United States. Transcendentalism, a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the 1830s, emphasized the importance of individualism, self-reliance, and the connection between humans and nature. This movement redefined freedom as the ability to think and act independently, free from societal constraints and conformity.

The Second Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept across the United States in the early 19th century, emphasized personal salvation, moral reform, and the idea of a personal relationship with God. This movement redefined freedom as the ability to seek spiritual fulfillment and live a virtuous life according to one's own conscience.

Both movements were a response to the market revolution, which brought about rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social change. As traditional social and economic structures were disrupted, individuals sought new ways to understand and assert their freedom in a rapidly changing society. Transcendentalism and the Second Great Awakening provided alternative visions of freedom that emphasized individual autonomy, spiritual fulfillment, and moral agency in the face of economic and social upheaval.

In conclusion, transcendentalism and the Second Great Awakening redefined freedom as the ability to think and act independently, seek spiritual fulfillment, and live a virtuous life according to one's own conscience. These movements were a response to the market revolution, offering alternative visions of freedom in a rapidly changing society.