This stimulated strong economic growth that caused a number of drastic changes in American society.
The American Enlightenment. One force that strongly shaped the early years of the United States was an intellectual movement called the American Enlightenment. It was based on the notion that through systematic investigation of the universe (which largely meant through science), all of its laws could be discovered. The knowledge gained from investigation could then be used to improve human affairs. Enlightenment thinkers viewed science, and the technological advancements that were derived from science, in a positive light. In fact, science came to be so important that religion became a subordinate concern for many people. The movement was limited to the elite portion of the American population during the 1700s, but the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century spurred a massive spreading of Enlightenment ideals to the general population. Science and technology emerged as national symbols of American progress.
The Industrial Revolution. When Thoreau wrote Wulcicn in the 1840s, the railroad was still a relatively new invention. Several passages are devoted to the train, which Thoreau describes as an "iron horse" and a "fire-steed." While Thoreau marvels at the power of the train, he views it ultimately as degrading to the human character: "Our inventions," he says, "are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.
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