Nudism in the USA
The original European settlers of America were the Puritans who were staunch advocates of non-pleasure and were afraid of nudity, even to the extent of not bathing themselves.
Later a free and independent United States of America developed and "radical thinkers" like Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau, publicity lauded the benefits in daily naked walks, or "air baths." Other nudists included President John Quincy Adams, who regularly bathed nude in the Potomac. Influxes of immigrants from Germany and other northern European countries also brought with them a more relaxed attitude to the body and in the 20th century nudist clubs started to be formed.
America is still split between two sections of the community - those who have strong religious objections to nudity and those who are more open minded.
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