Key Contributions of the Romantic Era: 1800–1890

Overview of the Romantic Era

The Romantic Era, spanning roughly from 1800 to 1890, was a period of extraordinary transformation across technology, politics, literature, science, communication, exploration, and social reform. The following developments stand out as among its most important contributions.

Technology: The beginning of this period was marked by technological advancements, such as the building of the first steam engine in England in 1803. Its first voyage took place in 1811 down the Mississippi River in America.^[1] The Industrial Revolution began to spread throughout Europe.

World politics: In the politics of the early 1800s, Napoleon began his reign as emperor in France, and James Madison was elected President of the United States. In 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain.^[2]

Literature: There were many literary achievements of this era, including Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Poe's The Raven and Other Poems, Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and Thoreau's Walden. Cultural imperialism and exploration were thought to motivate the expansion of literature during this time.^[3]

Steam engines: In the 1820s, John Stevens built a steam locomotive, and shortly afterward, the first railway was opened in Massachusetts. In another feat of steam power, the first steamship crossed the Atlantic in 1838.^[4]

War: After industrialization and revolutionary uprisings spread throughout Europe, the unification of Italy and Germany occurred between 1860 and 1870. In America, the Civil War was simultaneously taking place, ultimately resulting in a unified nation.^[5]

Science: In the field of science, Pasteur proved that fermentation was a biological process, electromagnetic rotation was demonstrated, the cell nucleus was discovered, the location of the North Pole was determined, and Darwin presented his findings on natural selection to the Linnean Society.^[6]

Nationalism and National Identity

Communication: Morse built the first American telegraph in 1835. Then, in 1860, the Pony Express mail system made its first run, expanding communication efforts and techniques.^[7]

Exploration: The Lewis and Clark expedition helped to map much of America in 1806. Other expeditionary missions revealed Amazonia and the Niger River.^[8]

Women: The role of women became increasingly important in intellectual and political pursuits in America and Europe, and women's rights became a growing concern. One particularly influential figure was Madame Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël, whose works were considered manifestos for the Romantic movement.^[9]

Slavery: In 1840, the World Anti-Slavery Convention was held in London. Great Britain abolished slavery in 1834; however, the United States would have to undergo civil war in the 1860s before the issue of slavery in America was resolved.^[10]

Literature and Exploration

An intellectual and artistic movement seen in politics, art, religion, and science marked the Romantic Era, which spanned roughly from 1800 to 1890. This period emphasizes the rise of nationalism throughout much of Europe. It marks "the transformation of the individual not only into a 'citizen' but also a member of a 'national' group."^[11] New nations were forming at this time, most notably through the unification of Germany and Italy, and a sense of national belonging was spreading due to recent conquests by Napoleon following the French Revolution.^[12] The result was the consolidation of language, which carried over into print and accelerated the spread of the national identity concept.^[13]

While these roots of nationalism were first seen in France, other European countries quickly followed suit. In Germany, Johann Gottfried von Herder urged the use of the German language in education and worship to unify the state. He also worked to "expound the importance of a sense of the German volk (people)."^[14] National pride was expressed through national anthems and a celebration of shared cultural identity. This was made possible by the surge of printed materials — including novels, dictionaries, patriotic songs, and national anthems — that could be easily circulated owing to the advancements of the time period.^[15]

While the Romantic period allowed for the "awakening of dormant nations from their centuries of slumber," the impact of literature cannot be understated.^[16] The boom in literary works during this time resulted from the impact of imperialism. Exploration, particularly on the part of Britain, was expanding relationships between foreign lands, making it possible to "imagine a relationship with people one would never meet."^[17] Explorers such as Cook could use the power of narrative to convey the details of their voyages, and this new sense of a "virtual journey" offered readers fresh perspectives.^[18]