The Role Religion in America US History Unit 1 Events and Ideas #8

Essential Question: What changes and challenges occurred with religion and religion freedom during colonial times and around the time of the founding of the United States?

Religion in the Old World Each King decided which religion would be practiced Kings received their right to govern from God Religion was practiced in a very formal, stiff atmosphere King George III

Religion in the Colonies 1620 – Puritans in Massachusetts (persecuted in England) 1630 – Catholics in Baltimore (persecuted in England) 1636 – religious toleration in Providence, Rhode Island 1681 – Quakers in Pennsylvania – allowed other faiths 1700 – Jews came to America to be able to worship freely but were not allowed to vote or hold public office Many colonist came to America to set up religious colonies people had to practice the same religion or they were forced to leave Quaker Meeting in the 1700’s

Religion Changes in the Americas In the 1700’s, religion became unregulated and enthusiastic Sects multiplied and split due to protestant/puritan emphasis on individual bible reading and congregational community Four colonies, Virginia, South Carolina, Connecticut, and Massachusetts retained official colony churches

First Great Awakening

The First Awakening Definition: – A religious movement that stressed dependence on God Revivals took place throughout the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s Black Baptist churches were founded in the South The first Black church in North America Religious Revival

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Preachers Preachers rejected Anglican Hierarchical control Preachers required no formal training - instead believed they were “called” to preach Preachers roamed the colonies and frontier

Growth and Revivals Tremendous religious growth and enthusiasm Open air camp meetings Exhorted participants to “accept the Lord and avoid the flames of Hell” Thousands flocked to this new Christianity

Evangelism The end result in the sermons was salvation Participants came forward in tears and humility confessing their sinner and swearing to begin life as saved Christians Out of the old tradition of saving Grace, came a more modern, public, and theatrical outpouring of religious emotion that remains today.

Religion and Slavery Brutality of slavery is condemned by Baptists. Slaves join Baptist churches in the South Violent attempts are made to break up the churches where slaves attended.

The Legacy of the First Great Awakening By late 1740’s the fervor began to fade but left a lasting legacy of: – rebelling against authoritarian religious rule – fathering new Protestant sects (Methodists, Baptists, etc.) – a unifying drive creating a national consciousness – the emerging anti-authority pattern in colonial America, with social and political impacts

The Legacy of the First Great Awakening William Knox wrote about the American drive for independence: “Every man being thus allowed to be his own Pope, he becomes disposed to wish to become his own King”. =

Religious References in Founders Documents Declaration of Independence: – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Religious References in Founders Documents United States Constitution The Bill of Rights

Second Great Awakening

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Second Great Awakening Second Great Awakening Definition: – A Protestant revival movement that began in 1790 Church leaders felt threatened and begin to revive America’s commitment to religion. Some ministers insisted that the nation’s citizenry, more than its government, was responsible for building a better society. Camp meetings: thousands singing, praying, and participating in emotional outpourings of faith. Religious Camp Meeting

Protestant Revival Movement Enrolled millions of new church members – many in new sects Many reform movements designed to remedy the evils of society before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Revival Meeting 1835

Charitable Societies Presbyterian minister Lyman Beecher insisted that the nation’s citizenry, more than its government, was responsible for building a better society. The focus was: – Spreading the word of God – Correcting social problems.

Progressive Religious Movements Key on improving social issues of the time – Temperance (prohibition of alcohol) – Abolishing slavery – Greed – Poverty – Women’s rights

New Religious Denominations Church of Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Seventh-day Adventist Church Evangelical Christian Church of Canada Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ellen White – one of the Seven Day Adventist Founders

Restoration Movement The idea of restoring a "primitive" form of Christianity Gave them a way to be “right” without the security of an established national church Contributed to the ideology of a number of religious sects: – Mormons – Baptists – Shakers Joseph Smith- Founder of the Mormon Religion

Demographics of the Second Great Awakening Estimated at least three female converts to every two male converts between 1798 to Young people (those under 25) also converted in greater numbers, and were the first to convert. “Teaching the Scriptures”

Baptist Churches in the South Formed by slaves and freedmen Welcomed slaves as members and preachers The revival inspired slaves to demand freedom State legislatures passed laws requiring Black churches to have a White man present at their meetings

Slave Preacher Nat Turner 3Y3E 3Y3E

During the Second Great Awakening, church membership rose sharply.

Religious Persecution: Mormons Mormonism began in the 1820’s. Persecuted for their beliefs in every area they moved: New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The church grew to 15,000 members Prophet Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob in 1844 Mormons fled to the Utah territory.

Religious Persecution: Catholics Catholics less welcome in the 13 colonies They comprised of less than 1% of the population the Philadelphia Bible Riots erupted over public school text books that condemned Catholicism and taught the Protestant way of thinking. Abraham Lincoln argued that Protestants and Catholics have equal rights under the Constitution.

Religious Persecutions: Jews Anti-Semitism reached its peak during the Civil War Jews became the scapegoats for economic suffering and social unrest. Laws against having Jewish army chaplains (Lincoln reversed this) General Order No.11 expelled all Jews from General Grant’s military department (Lincoln reversed this)

Critical Analysis essay: Answer the Essential Question: Critical Analysis essay: Answer the Essential Question: (minimum 5 sentences) What changes and challenges occurred with religion and religion freedom during colonial times and around the time of the founding of the United States?