1840 Democratic/Whig presidential campaign featured slogans, buttons, mudslinging
Whig William Henry Harrison elected to presidency
Publication of Transcendental periodical The Dial began (continued until 1844)
Elizabeth Palmer Peabody opened Foreign Library in Boston (where Margaret Fuller held "Conversations" and Brook Farm was planned)
1841 Vice President John Tyler succeeded President Harrison, who died shortly after taking office
John C. Frémont expedition to track headwaters of Des Moines River
Carlyle's On Heroes and Hero-Worship published
Emerson's Essays [First Series] published
Cooper's The Deerslayer (the final novel in his Leatherstocking Series, begun in 1823) published
Theodore Parker delivered "Discourse of the Transient and Permanent in Christianity" sermon (also called "South Boston Sermon")
George Ripley established Brook Farm (continued until 1847)
1842 Frémont expedition to explore route to Oregon
Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld legality of labor unions and right to strike
Massachusetts passed legislation to limit working hours of children
Lowell Offering began publication
Hawthorne moved to Old Manse in Concord (remained until 1845)
P.T. Barnum opened American Museum
1843 Second Frémont expedition to explore route to Oregon
North American Phalanx, first Fourierist community in America, established in Red Bank, New Jersey
Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane established Fruitlands
1844 Democrat James K. Polk elected to presidency
Constitution of Brook Farm revised; community became Fourierist
Emerson's Essays: Second Series published
Emerson delivered address in Concord on anniversary of emancipation in British West Indies
Fitchburg Railroad opened in Concord
