Final answer:
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were prominent followers of Transcendentalism, a 19th-century spiritual practice that emphasized individualism, emotion, and a close relationship with nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were prominent followers of the 19th-century spiritual practice known as Transcendentalism. This philosophical movement arose in the United States in response to widespread social changes and stressed individualism, emotion, and an intimate connection with nature.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, considered the father of this movement, initially followed his father's footsteps into the Unitarian ministry but eventually departed from it after certain life event and European influences. His ideology formed the base of Transcendentalism and had a significant influence over his contemporaries, including Henry David Thoreau.
Thoreau is famous for his emphasis on nature as a vessel for achieving transcendentalist goals. His published works, such as Civil Disobedience and Walden, bear significant testimony of these beliefs and subsequently influenced many political activists towards passive resistance movements in the years to come.
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