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Period Name and Date: Period Characteristics

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Period Name and Date: Period Characteristics

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1. Oral literature: epic narratives, creation myths, stories, poems, songs.

2. Use stories to teach moral lessons and convey practical information about the natural world.

3. Deep respect for nature and animals.

4. Cyclical worldview.

5. Figurative language/parallelism.

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Ehh?

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There were many different Native American tribes living in certain areas of North and South America. I included a map of where they were in North America.

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The Native Americans had many different types of houses built to protect them from the climate of their region, made from materials available in their region.

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies 1600-1800: 

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies 1600-1800: 

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1. Wrote mostly diaries and histories, which expressed the connections between God and their everyday lives.
2. South to "purify" the Church of England by reforming to the simpler forms of worship and church organization described in the New Testament.
3. Saw religion as a personal, inner experience.
4. Believed in original sin and "elect" who would be saved.
5. Used a plain style of writing.

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies:

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies:

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William Bradford
-"Of Plymouth Plantation"

Anne Bradstreet (poetry)

John Edwards
-"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Edward Taylor
-"Huswifery"

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies: Early colony locations

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies: Early colony locations

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The English originally stayed on the east coast in small areas.

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies: Location of other countries' settlements

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Puritanism and Early Settlement  of First "American" colonies: Location of other countries' settlements

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The English stayed on the east coast. The French enjoyed land slightly to the west of The English. The Spanish inhabited the south west and Florida. North western America remained untouched by The Europeans.

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1. Mostly comprised of philosophers, scientists, writing speeches and pamphlets

2. Human beings can arrive at truth (God's rules) by using deductive reasoning, rather than relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or intuition

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Benjamin Franklin
—Autobiography

Patrick Henry
—"Speech to the Virginia Convention"

Thomas Paine
—"The Crisis"

Phyllis Wheatley
—poetry

The Constitution

The Bill of Rights

The Declaration of Independence

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The belief that opinions and actions should be based on logic and knowledge rather than emotions.

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1607 Early Settlement—Jamestown

1775-1783 Revolutionary War

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Rationalism, "The Age of Reason", "The Enlightenment" - 1775-1783 Revolutionary War: 

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Rationalism, "The Age of Reason", "The Enlightenment" - 1775-1783 Revolutionary War: 

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1. Mostly comprised of philosophers, scientists, writing speeches and pamphlets

2. Human beings can arrive at truth (God's rules) by using deductive reasoning, rather than relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or intuition

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Benjamin Franklin
—Autobiography

Patrick Henry
—"Speech to the Virginia Convention"

Thomas Paine
—"The Crisis"

Phyllis Wheatley
—poetry

The Constitution

The Bill of Rights

The Declaration of Independence

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Map of U.S. 1787

https://mapsontheweb.zoom-maps.com/post/186380052074/the-northwest-territory-and-north-america-in-1787

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The Bill of Rights was on December 15, 1791. Does that mean no one had any rights between 76 and 91?

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bill-of-Rights-United-States-Constitution

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1. Everything in the world, including human beings, is a reflection of the Divine Soul.

2. People can use their intuition to behold God's spirit revealed in nature or in their own souls.

3. Self-reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority and link conformity to tradition.

4. Important social and political movements include the Abolitionist, Utopian, and Women's Suffrage Movements

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Ralph Waldo Emerson
—Nature
—"Self-Reliance"

Henry David Thoreau
—Walden
—Life in the Woods

Louisa May Alcott
—Little Women

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Just an interesting quote that made me think.

https://www.sutori.com/en/story/transcendentalism--naqPw3US7ajDERpfsQwG4PrM

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Transcendentalism and other similar movements in the 19th century expanded ideas about government and religion, establishing that everyone was their own independent person and deserved to be treated as such. These ideas were often debated over zealously by many famous writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson while these ideas were prevalent in the minds of Americans.

The Puritans had very strict rules on what the members could and could not do. These rules banned things like, musical instruments, women showing their arms, and cursing.

In the Unites States a father's authority was not as strong as in Europe and that women and children were far more independent." -Alexis de Tocqueville

This here explains that even as the first American colonists came over to the new continent, they had the incipient ideas of individuality, which would later play into a big part in American transcendentalism.

"A living dog is better than a dead lion. Shall a man go and hang himself because he belongs to the race of pygmies, and not be the biggest pygmy that he can? Let every one mind his own business, and endeavor to be what he was made." -Thoreau

What Thoreau means by this is that not all people are made the same. Everyone is different. They have their own talents, preferences, and personalities. Everyone should use these values the best that they can, according to Thoreau. Just because you aren't good at one thing doesn't mean that you can't excel at another thing.

Walden
A piece of work that showed the ways the Transcendentalist beliefs affected someone's life was Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Throughout all 275 pages, Thoreau tells of his months that he spent by himself in a log cabin on Walden Pond and what he learned from his experiences.

War and Conflict
"If you would learn to speak all tongues and conform to the customs of all nations, if you would travel farther than all travelers, be naturalized in all climes, and cause the Sphinx to dash her head against a stone, even obey the precept of the old philosopher, and Explore thyself... Only the defeated and deserters go to the wars, cowards that run away and enlist." -Thoreau

What Thoreau is saying here is that war, even just war, is an option to those who have nothing more to do with their lives, which is nobody. Everyone has more to give if they would just dig a little deeper. Everyone is important and good.

Quiz

Is the belief that people are naturally good unique to transcendentalism?

No, that's a common concept.

No, many religions back then thought that.

Yes, very few religions at the time had that belief.

Yes, no one had ever thought of that idea.

"Yet I experienced sometimes that the most sweet and tender, the most innocent and encouraging society may be found in any natural object even for the poor misanthrope and most melancholy man." -Thoreau

What Thoreau is saying here is that even the tiniest or most insignificant things have value, have lessons, and peace. This shows the appreciation that transcendentalists have for everything in the world.

Did you know?

Many of the Spiritual beliefs of transcendentalists aligned closely with those of Daoists. They both saw value in the spirit and pushed away material objects, while still recognizing the value of these things.

Religious connections
We have heard of Christ by the hearing of the ear; now let us see him, let us be him, and see what will come of that. Let us communicate with each other, and live... Religious communities have ever but partially entered into the Idea of Christ."

-Transcendentalist "newspaper" The Dial.

This was part of a longer essay talking about how we have separated ourselves from God. Transcendentalists believed that religious practices should take place outside in nature so you could be one with God as apposed to being in a building away from nature and God.

"Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less. They love the soil which makes their grave, but have no sympathy with the spirit which may still animate their clay." -Thoreau

Thoreau here states that while some people may like the ideas of Transcendentalism, they do not follow the rules or values of the movement, (sort of like a Hot Pocket in a microwave. Some parts are still frozen and some are still scalding hot. It is incomplete.) changing the actions and values of some Americans in the 19th century because they realized that Thoreau was talking to them, that they were the ones who didn't follow the ideas.

Transcendentalism was a very important movement for America. It preached many different beliefs and helped people see that they're not naturally sinful. The movement at the time built tolerance and caused many people to see the world more equally. In current day it's helped show us that there are many different ways to view the world and that we should all be open towards each other's beliefs.

Ryan Kammerzell's Works Cited
From Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835) in A History of US Sourcebook and Index, Third Edition, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.

From Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience (1849) pgs. 138-142 in A History of US Sourcebook and Index, Third Edition, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.

Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and Other Writings. Barnes & Noble, 1993.

Toropov, Brandon, and Luke Buckles. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Religions. Indianapolis, IN, Alpha Books, 2002.

Grace Morgan's Works Cited
Emerson, Ralph W. "The American Scholar." Emerson Central. The American Scholoar, 31 Aug. 1837, Cambridge, Cambridge, www.emersoncentral.com/amscholar.htm.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Nature." American Transcendentalism Web, 1836, transcendentalism-legacy.tamu.edu/authors/emerson/nature.html. Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.

From Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835) in A History of US Sourcebook and Index, Third Edition, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.

From Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (1841) pgs. 124-127 in A History of US Sourcebook and Index, Third Edition, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.

Lane, Charles. "Brook Farm." The Dial, 1844, pp. 351-57, archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/ideas/brookfarmdial.html. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.

"Utopian Communities, Communes (Issue)." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk, Gale, 1999. Research in Context, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=MSIC&sw=w&u=whea48685&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CEJ1667500731&it=r&asid=6c21bea5836980fda430de1fe16389fe. Accessed 29 Sept. 2017.

Valentina Mosca's Works Cited
Emerson, Ralph. "The Transcendentalist." American Transcendentalism Web, Virginia Commonwealth University, archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/ transcendentalism/authors/emerson/essays/transcendentalist.html. Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.

Fuller, Margaret, and Ralph Emerson. "The Religion of Beauty." The Dial, vol. 1, July 1840, pp. 17-25.

Ockerbloom, John, editor. "A GLIMPSE OF CHRIST'S IDEA OF SOCIETY." The Online Books Page, Upenn, onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=thedial. Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.

---, editor. "Social Tendencies." The Online Books Page, Upenn, onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=thedial. Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.

Benson, Sonia, et al. "Transcendentalism." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 8, Detroit, UXL, 2009, pp. 1571-72. Research in Context, go.galegroup.com/ps/ i.do?p=MSIC&sw=w&u=whea48685&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3048900619&asid=89ccd4bd9cbaf 4864783e9cef5ddbbce. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.

National Portrait Gallery / Universal Images GroupRights Managed / For Education Use Only

https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-America-Alexis-Tocqueville/dp/1584772492

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Transcendentalism and other similar movements in the 19th century expanded ideas about government and religion, establishing that everyone was their own independent person and deserved to be treated as such. These ideas were often debated over zealously by many famous writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson while these ideas were prevalent in the minds of Americans.

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Transcendentalists consider themselves Christian.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/
http://intothewildtranscendentalism.weebly.com/transcendentalism.html

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"Transcendentalism is an American literary and philosophical movement that developed in New England in the 1830s and '40s...Transcendentalism [emphasizes] individual intuition as a central means of...

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1. Valued feeling, intuition, idealism, and inductive reasoning.

2. Placed faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination.

3. Shunned the artificiality of civilization and sought unspoiled nature as a path to spirituality.

4. Championed individual freedom and the worth of the individual

5. Saw poetry as the highest expression of the imagination

6. Dark Romantics: used dark and supernatural themes/settings (Gothic style)

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Washington Irving
—"Rip van Winkle"

Emily Dickinson
—poetry

Walt Whitman
—Leaves of Grass

Edgar Allan Poe
—"The Raven"

Nathaniel Hawthorne
—The Scarlet Letter

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Fact 1

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Fact 1

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The California gold rush was in the Sacramento Valley

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Here is a map of The United States in 1860, including results of a presidential election. 

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Fact 2

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Fact 2

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https://gisgeography.com/us-election-1860-map/

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The Mona Lisa painting was from the renaissance. It must have happened in a different time in America compared to Europe, because the painting was made between 1503-1506.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mona-Lisa-painting

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It seems that doctors and scientists actually started trying during the renaissance, at least of Europe.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323533#renaissance

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Medieval and Renaissance medicine: Practice and developments

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The Greeks and Romans made important medical discoveries and Islamic scholars in the Middle East were building on these. But, from the Dark Ages on, Europe saw little progress in medicine until the beginning of the Renaissance, when Plague, herbs, and incantations started to give way to new methods.

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Special Dates

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Romanticism and Industrialization: Special Dates

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The War of 1812
1812-1815

California Gold Rush
1848 onward

https://www.britannica.com/topic/California-Gold-Rush

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Basically accusation with insufficient supporting facts.
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/mccarthyism-red-scare#:~:text=%5BThe%20American%20Heritage%20Dictionary%20gives,in%20order%20to%20suppress%20opposition.%5D

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Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was a little-known junior senator from Wisconsin until February 1950 when he claimed to possess a list of 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. Department of State. From that moment Senator McCarthy became a tireless crusader against Communism in the early 1950s, a period that has been commonly referred to as the "Red Scare." As chairman of the Senate Permanent Investigation Subcommittee, Senator McCarthy conducted hearings on communist subversion in America and investigated alleged communist infiltration of the Armed Forces. His subsequent exile from politics coincided with a conversion of his name into a modern English noun "McCarthyism," or adjective, "McCarthy tactics," when describing similar witch hunts in recent American history. [The American Heritage Dictionary gives the definition of McCarthyism as: 1. The political practice of publicizing accusations of disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence; and 2. The use of methods of investigation and accusation regarded as unfair, in order to suppress opposition.] Senator McCarthy was censured by the U.S. Senate on December 2, 1954 and died May 2, 1957.

Draft page, "Sixth Draft" of Eisenhower speech given on October 3, 1952 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on "Communism and Freedom" [Stephen Benedict Papers, Box 4, 10-3-52 Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1); NAID #16614761] (The deleted paragraph refers to accusations made by McCarthy against General George C. Marshall and was removed from the speech to avoid causing bad feelings in McCarthy's home state of Wisconsin.)

Letter, Senator Joseph McCarthy to President Eisenhower re James B. Conant as High Commissioner in Germany, February 3, 1953 [DDE's Papers as President, Name Series, Box 22, McCarthy Joseph; NAID #16660398]

Letter, President Eisenhower to friend, Harry Bullis, May 18, 1953 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 317, OF 99-R McCarthy, Hon. Joeseph R.; NAID #16702985]

Letter, President Eisenhower to friend, Swede Hazlett, July 21, 1953 (pages 3 and 4 only) [DDE's Papers as President, Name Series, Box 18, Hazlett Swede 1953 (1); NAID #16610971]

Letter, President Eisenhower to his brother, Milton Eisenhower, October 9, 1953 (page 3 only) [DDE's Papers as President, Name Series, Box 12, Eisenhower Milton 1952-1953 (3); NAID #16660401]

Daily Notes by C.D. Jackson, Speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Eisenhower, November 27, 1953 [C.D. Jackson Papers, Box 68, Log 1953 (5); NAID #16702995]

Daily Notes by C.D. Jackson, Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the President, November 30, 1953 [C.D. Jackson Papers, Box 68, Log 1953 (5); NAID #16702996]

Memorandum, Stanley M. Rumbough Jr. and Charles Masterson, Special Assistants in the White House, to Murray Snyder, Assistant White House Press Secretary, about responding to Senator McCarthy, December 1, 1953 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 317, OF99-R McCarthy, Hon. Joseph R.; NAID #16702981]

Daily Notes by C.D. Jackson, Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the President, December 2, 1953 [C.D. Jackson Papers, Box 68, Log 1953 (5); NAID #16702997]

Diary entries by James C. Hagerty, White House Press Secretary [James C. Hagerty Papers, Box 1, January 1-April 6, 1954]

Diary entry, February 25, 1954; NAID #16703016
Diary entry, March 8, 1954; NAID #16703018
Diary entry, March 10, 1954; NAID #16703019
Diary entry, March 24, 1954; NAID #16703020

Diary entries by James C. Hagerty, White House Press Secretary [James C. Hagerty Papers, Box 1, May 1954]

Diary entry, May 12, 1954; NAID #16703022
Diary entry, May 13, 1954; NAID #16703024
Diary entry, May 14, 1954; NAID #16703025
Diary entry, May 17, 1954; NAID #16703026
Diary entry, May 28, 1954; NAID #16703027
Diary entry, May 30, 1954; NAID #16703029
Diary entry, May 31, 1954; NAID #16703030

Letter, President Eisenhower to Secretary of Defense regarding testimony of Defense Department employees, May 17, 1954 [DDE's Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 25, McCarthy Letters; NAID #16702983]

Notes by L. Arthur Minnich, Assistant White House Staff Secretary [White House Office of the Staff Secretary, L. Arthur Minnich Series, Box 1, Miscellaneous Mc]

Staff Notes on Senator Joseph McCarthy, May 22, 1953; NAID #16703043
Staff Notes on Senator Joseph McCarthy, July 15, 1953; NAID #16703044
Staff Notes on Senator Joseph McCarthy, July 29, 1953; NAID #16703045
Staff Notes on the McCarthy Hearings and the Privacy of Personal Advice, May 17, 1954; NAID #16703046
Staff Notes on Senator Joseph McCarthy, November 19, 1954; NAID #16703047
Staff Notes on McCarthyism, June 21, 1955; NAID #16703048

Letter, Asst. Secretary of Defense Fred Seaton to Senator McCarthy regarding accusations of Communists working in defense facilities, June 3, 1954 [Fred Seaton Papers, FAS Eyes Only Series, Box 4, McCarthy (1); NAID #16703231]

Diary entry by James Hagerty, White House Press Secretary [James C. Hagerty Papers, Box 1, June 1954]

Diary entry, June 8, 1954; NAID #16703041

Memo by Ann Whitman regarding events leading up to so-called "break" made by McCarthy, December 7, 1954 [DDE's Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 25, McCarthy Letters; NAID #16702984]

Senate Resolution (S. Res. 116) introduced by Senator Joseph McCarthy, June 20, 1955 [White House Office of the Staff Secretary, L. Arthur Minnich Series, Box 1, Miscellaneous Mc; NAID #16703049]

Secondary Sources:

The White House Years: Mandate for Change, 1953-1956 by Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1963.

Who Killed Joe McCarthy? by William B. Ewald, Jr., Simon and Schuster, New York, 1984.

Nightmare in Red: The McCarthy Era in Perspective by Richard M. Fried, Oxford University Press, New York, 1990.

The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate by Robert Griffith, University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, 1970.

Joseph McCarthy: The Politics of Chaos by Mark Landis, Susquehanna University Press, Selinsgrove, 1987.

McCarthy and McCarthyism in Wisconsin by Michael O'Brien, University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri, 1980.

A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy by David Oshinsky, Free Press, New York; Collier Macmillan, London, 1983.

Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America by Ellen Schrecker, Little, Brown, Boston, 1998.

Additional Information:
McCarthyism Subject Guide
Photographs:

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Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was a little-known junior senator from Wisconsin until February 1950 when he claimed to possess a list of 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. Department of State. From that moment Senator McCarthy became a tireless crusader against Communism in the early 1950s, a period that has been commonly referred to as the "Red Scare."

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About 1950-1954.
This sort of thing happens during a panic, when people unite against a common enemy. They are so desperate to rid themselves of this enemy that they are willing to condemn people with insufficient evidence.
Why does this sound familiar? OH YEAH The Crucible

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His work was published in England before U.S., despite being from U.S.
His wife was called Elinor Frost.
The picture is of Robert Frost reciting The Gift Outright at JFK's inauguration.

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She was born in 1612.
She was married to Simon Bradstreet.
She was born in England, and died in America.

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Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1809.
His mum died in Richmond, Virginia, in 1811.
My source, Britannica, says it perfectly; Edgar Allen Poe "married his young cousin Virginia Clemm, who was only 13. "

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edgar-Allan-Poe

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Veganism is the practice of avoiding animal cruelty by not using products that come from animals. Veganism is taking a stand against animal cruelty.

https://sentientmedia.org/what-is-a-vegan/

Full disclosure to anyone reading this, I eat meat.

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Unclear on what being a vegan means? You'll find out here. Or do you want to be a vegan but aren't sure where to start? That's a common problem. If you've considered "going vegan," you might need more facts to help you make an informed decision. Changing the way you eat is a significant endeavor, so you shouldn't take it lightly.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation out there about what vegan people eat and how they consume and use other products. We're going to debunk those myths today.

We also want to show you the benefits of going vegan, the differences between veganism and vegetarianism, and the types of vegans.

Let's dig in!

What Is a Vegan?

Let's start with the most basic vegan definition. A vegan is someone who does not eat, drink, or otherwise consume or use any animal products. You won't see a vegan sporting a leather belt or using soaps made from animal parts.

A vegan is someone who likely cares about his or her health and has concerns about animal welfare. Someone can be vegan also for reasons of protecting the climate and conserving the Earth's resources. Eating a vegan diet has many benefits, which we'll explore below, but the important thing is to understand is that it might seem like work at first. But you'll get the hang of it quickly.

You'll have to read labels carefully and identify the foods you love that fall under the category vegan. Luckily, vegan foods are abundant, delicious, filling, and cruelty-free, which makes them ideal for people at any stage of life.

Reasons Why People Become Vegans

Everyone has a different reason for becoming vegan. There's no right or wrong reason to choose this type of diet.

However, there are some common denominators with which you might resonate. Let's look at some of the most common reasons why people become vegans.

The Belief That All Creatures Should Be Free

If you're familiar with factory farming and other nefarious practices in the processing of animal products, you probably want to become vegan. Knowing that you're not participating in that process can definitely make you feel better after consuming a meal.

Many vegans believe that all animals deserve to live lives free of cruelty, preferably freely in their natural habitats. They protest the exploitation and slaughter of billions of animals each year for profit and human consumption.

What if you met the cow or chicken before a side of beef or a breast landed on your plate? How would you feel about consuming animal flesh after having met the animal in person?

It's easy to disconnect from the animal who suffered to provide the food on your dinner table. If you're conscious of how your eating habits impact animal happiness and health, you might decide to go vegan.

They Want to Improve Their Health

It's true that you can go vegan and still eat unhealthy foods. Chips, cookies, cakes, bread, and other unhealthy parts of your diet can cause you to gain weight or feel less energetic.

However, if you use your transition into veganism to become more conscious of the types of foods you're eating overall, you will experience amazing benefits. Clearer skin, fewer stomach aches, reduced stress, increased energy, and improved mental clarity often result from veganism. We'll discuss some of the benefits in more detail later in this article.

What you put into your body matters. As just one example, if you eat foods that spike your blood sugar, you'll eventually crash, which can lead to sluggishness and an unfocused mind. Healthy foods, on the other hand, give our bodies what they crave. Going vegan can help with that.

Love For The Environment

Operations like factory farms are a drain on our natural sources. Eating vegan is one of the best actions you can take for the environment. Animal agriculture is one of the three largest sources of greenhouses emissions, and unlike cutting on commuting or travel, changing the content of your food from animals to plants doesn't force you to change your life that much. You can still eat just as much as you did before.

Animal agriculture is also the main cause of deforestation. That Amazon rainforest being cut down in Brazil? It's almost all for cattle feed and grazing. In the U.S. a full 41% of all land is used by animal agriculture, including livestock feed, pastureland, and the factory farm operations themselves. They compete with biodiversity and promote extinctions of other species living in nature. There's very little to like about animal agriculture when it comes to the environment.

Social Responsibility

People who go vegan often have the greater good in mind. Consider the number of people who go hungry all over the planet. We're using tons of grains and vegetables to overfeed farmed animals. Instead, we could use those resources to feed people who desperately need nourishment.

For example, most of the soybeans grown in the world is fed to the animals who are grown for human food. But this is extremely wasteful. A cow needs 25 times the calorie input to produce one calorie in meat yield. That's like throwing away 24 plates of food every time you eat a plate of meat.

Peer Pressure

Let's face it: it's cool to go vegan. Lots of celebrities have spoken publicly about their veganism, for instance, and parents are passing this tradition on to their children.

People are so passionate about veganism that they often won't consider dating someone who doesn't have the same dietary beliefs. Friends often bond over plant-based meats and recipes.

This is the good kind of peer pressure. The peer pressure that results in positive change.

Are Vegans and Vegetarians the Same?

People often use the term vegan and vegetarian interchangeable. They're not the same thing. Vegetarians have completely different diets.

Remember that vegans don't consume any animal products. If you're strictly vegan, you don't wear leather or wool, you don't eat gelatine, you don't use beeswax or consume honey, and you don't use shellac in your home-improvement projects.

These are all products that come from animals or insects. One idea behind developing a vegan lifestyle is to disturb the animal world as little as possible.

Differences Between Vegans and Vegetarians

Vegetarianism is actually a very broad umbrella term that describes a number of diets. Generally, a vegetarian doesn't consume any meat products, such as beef, poultry, pork, or fish.

Most vegetarians don't cut dairy from their diet. They also eat eggs. In other words, they consume products that animals make, but not meat that requires slaughter.

Some vegetarians, however, eat eggs and not dairy or vice versa. A pescetarian eats fish and shellfish, but not any other form of meat.

Vegetarians take great strides toward improving the lives of animals. They refuse to touch foods that contain meat. For instance, they wouldn't eat certain types of soups, broths, and stir-fries because if those foods contain traces of meat.

Types of Vegans

We've already talked about a few of the reasons why people go vegan, but what happens after a vegan adopts this diet? There are lots of ways to be vegan, and deciding how you want to handle your diet can have a big impact on your overall health and well-being.

Dietary Vegans

A dietary vegan doesn't consume any animal products or by-products but might use products that contain them. For instance, shearing sheep for wool isn't nearly as barbaric as slaughtering innocent animals for their meat.

However, you have to consider that using animal by-products, such as wool, can be detrimental to the animal. Sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other similar animals grow fur for a reason. Their wool keeps them warm and helps regulate their body temperatures. And like in most cases of using animals to produce anything, the animals' welfare is not the main concern for the producers, as seen in yet another expose of the industry in the UK in 2018.

Junk-Food Vegans

There are lots of unhealthy foods that fall under the vegan umbrella:

Vegan cookies and other desserts (like vegan donuts)

Chips

Bread

Frozen Vegan Meals

Foods fried in peanut or vegetable oil

Vegan donuts (yes, again, because donuts)

You see where we're going with this. There's nothing wrong with eating what you want, but remember that your body deserves good nutrition. Donuts may not be it (ok, sometimes).

Raw-Food Vegans

A raw-food vegan doesn't cook any of his or her food. These vegans typically sustain themselves on raw veggies, salads, whole fruits, and nuts and legumes.

Eating raw is something of a fad these days, though some people try 30-day experiments with it. You can try it if you want. Eating raw limits your diet substantially, though, and might cause some digestive upset due to the high fiber content. The upside is that after this diet, any other vegan diet will be like a walk in the park.

Whole-Food Vegans

A whole-food vegan doesn't eat any processed foods. No Boca Burgers or vegan frozen meals for them. Instead, they fill their plates with vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and legumes. This type of diet can lead to numerous health benefits, including weight loss, better digestive function, improved energy, and reduced risk for certain diseases.

Of course, sometimes you really want that Boca Burger (or Impossible Burger, or Beyond Meat Burger, or Gardein, or... there are many, many delicious options).

Low-Fat Vegans

A low-fat vegan focuses on reducing fat intake. They would cut down on olive oil, for instance, because of its extraordinarily high-fat content. They also avoid high-fat vegetables and fruits, such as avocados, and steer clear of nuts, chia seeds, nut butters, and the like.

Remember that we need body fat to survive. Without it, our bodies lack sufficient energy resources. There's nothing wrong with a low-fat diet, but it's not a good idea to deprive yourself of all healthy fats.

While we're describing these different permutations of the vegan diet, remember that you don't have to follow any strict rules. Create your own version of veganism that works for your body, your palate - and the animals and the planet.

What Do Vegans Eat?

Many times, conversations about eating a vegan diet revolve around deprivation. "Oh, I can't eat that, it has animal by-products." But what about what you can eat?

Visit your local grocery store and check out the produce section. Consider it your new best friend. You can, of course, eat any fruit, vegetable, nut, or grain you like. Challenge yourself to find new ways to prepare flavor-rich salads.

Many people who go vegan discover that they don't need salad dressing to enjoy their salads. The flavors from the many ingredients provide plenty of satisfaction. Chopping your salads can also make them tastier. Chopping releases some of the juices in the fruits and vegetables and allows you to get more flavors in every bite.
We mentioned before, you aren't depriving yourself of anything. You're simply looking at food in a different way.
If it comes from animals, it's not food. If it comes from the ground, it is.

What Do Vegans Not Eat?

Vegans don't eat anything that comes from an animal. The list is not long but includes:

Learning what not to eat takes some time at first because you have to read labels. If you're eating a food that comes in a box, can, or similar container, you'll have to make sure it doesn't contain any meat, eggs, or dairy.

Fortunately, you have tons of alternatives. Instead of using chicken or beef broth to cook, pick up some vegetable broth. Increase your satiety after meals by piling your plate full of nutrient-dense food. You might even want to enjoy a vegan dessert afterward.

With a dietary change, you may find it beneficial to take some supplements, such as iron or B-12 vitamin. Consult with a nutritional specialist or a physician (though many, especially in the West, are ill-equipped to prescribe diets) about your specific diet and any deficiencies you might have to correct.

Benefits of Going Vegan

Any dietary change can result in temporary discomfort. Your body has to get used to eating new things, for instance, to replace any meat products you might have consumed your entire life. Talk to your doctor about ways to relieve indigestion, heartburn, bloating, or other problems. But also keep in mind that it will pass. Give yourself at least two weeks to get used to the change before making up your mind about the results and how you feel.

The important thing is to introduce new foods slowly. Don't dump a whole tablespoon of flaxseed on your salad, for instance. Instead, add just a pinch, the increase the portion size as your body adjusts.

Once you introduce all the foods you like, you'll experience a wealth of benefits from going vegan. The following are just a few.

1. The Vegan Lifestyle Is Rich in Many Nutrients

When authorities talk about nutritio n, the first words out of their mouths are often "fruits and vegetables." There's a reason for that.

Fruits and vegetables contain numerous vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients our bodies need to thrive. They're low-calorie for the most part, but they satisfy the body's needs and can even boost mental acuity, energy, and the rate at which your body builds muscle.

The standard American diet-it's called "SAD" for a reason, folks-is notoriously nutrient-deficient. When you eat tons of junk food, you deprive your body of what it needs to maintain optimum health.

As we mentioned above, not all vegan food is good for you. Put down that donut except for an occasional treat. Pick up a juicy orange or peach, instead.

2. It May Protect Against Certain Cancers

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a heavily plant-based diet is best for preventing cancer and for managing it. The AICR notes that small amounts of meat products don't seem to make a difference in terms of cancer prevention, but suggests that your diet consists of two-thirds plant-based foods.

While eating animal products in small amounts might not hurt your chances of avoiding or surviving cancer, it does hurt the animals. Assuming a fully vegan diet is best for you and for the rest of the animal kingdom.

3. It Promotes Weight Loss

If you've been struggling to lose weight, the meat and dairy products in your refrigerator might be the culprit. Meat contains lots of fat (both saturated and unsaturated), and dairy products often contain unhealthy fats, oils, and other ingredients.

When you eat a plant-based diet, you're forced to think more about your food. You have to determine whether it's vegan, for instance, which might lead you to think more about calories. After you prepare a few delicious plant-based meals, you'll discover that whole foods taste better than processed ones, which leads to better decisions at the supermarket.

Going vegan isn't a fad diet. For one thing, you should never sink too far into a calorie deficit if you want to lose weight while maintaining and building muscle. Second, your body has to adjust to the new foods you're eating.

If you steer clear of processed food and junk food, though, the pounds should start to melt away after you become vegan. Not only will you lose weight, but you might notice that your skin becomes clearer, you have more energy, and you can work out for longer periods of time.

4 Most Common Myths About Vegans

Disinformation is available on almost any topic, and veganism is no exception. Some vegan myths come from people who champion eating meat, while others come from well-meaning people who simply pass along what they hear.

Eating is one of the most basic necessities for human life to continue. Consequently, it deserves careful consideration. When you're deciding what to eat, make sure you're doing adequate research and relying on legitimate sources.

Let's look at some of the myths about vegans that still manage to flourish.

1. Being a Vegan Is For Hippies

The hippie movement originated in the 1960s and formed a counterculture among people who believed in free love, copious access to hallucinogenic drugs, and a generally loving approach to everyone and everything in their lives.
Of course, that extended to animals.
Some hippies refused to eat meat, while others did with wild abandon. There's no connection between veganism and hippies.

This myth stems from the fact that later generations often view anything that goes against mass cultural beliefs and values to be "for hippies." However, veganism isn't a countercultural movement. Doctors, lawyers, postal carriers, teachers, celebrities, parents, kids, and cooks alike choose veganism.

2. It's Hard to Be a Vegan

Lots of things are hard in life. It's hard to go through a divorce, but exiting a toxic marriage is healthy. It's hard to quit smoking, but people do it every day to prevent lung cancer and other damage to the body.

Becoming vegan isn't hard. You might want to stay away from your favorite animal products for a while so you avoid feeling tempted and deprived, but there are plenty of delicious foods that you can eat on a vegan diet.

Your mindset makes the difference between a positive or negative association with veganism. Try gratitude. Every time you eat a meal, thank yourself for sparing animal lives.

You can make this process easier by focusing on vegan foods you loved before you decided to remove animal products from your plate. Love peaches? Buy them by the bushel. Enjoy smoothies? Stock up on bananas and berries.

3. You Cannot Really Live as a Vegan

It's true that vegans sometimes struggle to find restaurants that cater to their diets. However, finding food as a vegan is far from impossible.

Many chain restaurants now have vegan dishes on their menu. Those dishes are often identified as vegan by a word or image, so you don't even have to question it.

Research vegan-specific restaurants in your community. Make a list, and try them out with your family or friends.

If you're forced to attend a meal at a restaurant that doesn't offer vegan-friendly cuisine, have a backup plan. Eat before you go. You can also often get a restaurant to prepare a vegan-friendly meal, even if it's just a bowl of fruit at a diner.

People sometimes say you can't really live as a vegan because you won't get sufficient nutrients. The opposite is actually true. As long as you're eating a rich and varied diet of plant-based foods, you can't go wrong.

Vegan-friendly foods have fat, protein, carbs, and minerals and vitamins. That covers all of your bases.

4. The Vegan Lifestyle Makes You Weak

The logic behind this vegan myth suggests that people need animal proteins to stay strong. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Consider that some of the most powerful animals in the world, such as elephants, eat entirely plant-based diets. They don't make the conscious decision to eat only plants. It's what their instincts tell them to do. Yet elephants have tremendous bulk and strength.

The same goes for cows, horses, and many other creatures. A horse, for instance, can run, compete in sports, jump many feet off the ground, and carry people over great distances. They're plant eaters.

The vegan lifestyle will only make you weak if you don't choose your food appropriately. Look for foods that offer a wide range of nutrients, and make sure you're getting plenty of carbs and protein in your diet.

Conclusion

Becoming a vegan isn't as tough as people think, and it certainly doesn't make you sick or weak. It's simply a decision you make to improve your health and protect animals from needless slaughter.

People don't have to eat meat to survive-or even thrive. Scott Jurek, one of the most successful runners alive today, eats a vegan diet. So do other athletes, such as mixed martial artist Mac Danzig and baseball player Pat Neshek.
What's stopping you from eating a vegan diet? Do you have any tips for non-vegans who want to make the switch?
Do Vegans Live Longer Than Meat-Eaters? Vegan Nutrition: How to Stay Healthy on a Plant-Based Diet Vegan Health: What You Need to Know About the Vegan Diet

Grant Lingel

Grant is the co-founder of Sentient Media. He currently lives in Brazil and has traveled across dozens of countries on assignment.

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What Is a Vegan and Why You Should Consider Veganism

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Unclear on what being a vegan means? You'll find out here. Or do you want to be a vegan but aren't sure where to start? That's a common problem. If you've considered "going vegan," you might need more facts to help you make an informed decision.

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The English term vegan dates back to 1944. The idea of veganism dates back to several hundred years before Jesus' birth. The modern idea became popular in the early 2000s.

https://time.com/3958070/history-of-veganism/

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November 1 is World Vegan Day, a celebration of people who don't eat meat. Or eggs. Or cheese. Or mayonnaise. Or honey. Or whey. Or...