Emerson draws a link between the ideas of unity and spirituality. He believes that individuals are connected in their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and that the universal spirit in all beings is what facilitates this connection. He deepens his ongoing challenge for the individual to actively study history, intentionally using examples such as the French Reign of Terror and the Salem Witch trials that are likely off-putting and emotionally challenging for his audience to “participate” in. But, as a transcendentalist, Emerson believes that the intrinsic unity between individuals allows them to identify with different people and experiences, no matter how distant or detached from their own lives those events may seem.