2.1 Historical Background t 2. 1. 1 The over-triumph of mechanization 4&2.1.2 The waning of over-optimistic Transcendentalism by the 1870s de 2.1.3 Influence from European realistic writers2.1 Historical Background 2.1.1 The over-triumph of mechanization 2.1.2 The waning of over-optimistic Transcendentalism by the 1870s 2.1.3 Influence from European realistic writers