The Romantic period is an important period that had a great impact in terms of literature, it also changed the political and religious views of people from the earliest ages until today. . The Romantic period lasted from approximately 1800 to the end of 1850. It was during this time that the Industrial Revolution and the human mind changed dramatically. The Romantic period in terms of literature is a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment. Although America became independent in 1776, it was still politically controlled by the British. Colleges, schools, and churches had to follow strict laws regulated by the British government and Americans had to pay taxes to the government. It was at this time that academics began to revolt against the British government and people began to reason. One such man who influenced the Romantic period would be Ralph Waldo Emerson. He influenced scholars and Americans with his literary work and was named Transcendentalism. The ideology of Transcendentalism was against corrupt political and religious parties. Emerson tried to create a new society in which people would not be ruled by others and believed that the individual could be tamed by himself if he was truly self-sufficient and independent. On the other hand, Transcendentalism was a freedom movement. Emerson's works such as The American Scholar had a great impact on the Declaration of Independence. The American Scholar article was a speech given by Emerson at Cambridge in 1837 during the Romantic period. In his article he talks about autonomy and independence focusing on three main ideas: nature, books and action. Writers of the Romantic period were preoccupied with and connected to nature, Emerson was also one of them. His work "The American Scholar" was written...... middle of paper ...... and those whom the scholar influences, with the awareness that he or she is a member of a universal community and that community is in fact an interconnected essence, a true democracy. (Otto, n.d.). Works Cited Otto, Eric C. (January 13, 1998). Misdirected American democracy: Emerson's solution in the ampersand "American Scholar." Retrieved from http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol1/issue2/emerson.htmEmerson, Ralph Waldo. “The American Scholar.” The Health Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter et al. 2nd. ed. Vol I. Lexington: Heath, 1994. 1529-1541. Retrieved from http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol1/issues/emerson.htmJamie. (July 14, 2010). The American Scholar: A Declaration of Intellectual Independence. A self-taught scholar. Retrieved from http://selfmadescholar.com/b/2010/07/14/the-american-scholar-a-declaration-of-intellectual-independence/