Impact of Religion on American History to 1877

Evidence throughout American history confirms religion has significantly contributed to the evolution of our culture. Multiple events have contributed, including politics, people and weather. Politics and people are widely impacted by religion. Religion is the primary cause of most wars in countries across the world. Many historians believe America was formed on the basis of religion. In this research paper, I will illustrate the impact religion had on American History to 1877. Specifically, it will examine: 1) Major events impacting traditional religious beliefs in America, 2) Religious disputes which impacted land development, and 3) The impact religion had on slavery.

Religion is closely tied to events like the Protestant Reformation and other religious movements. The Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s started a decade long battle over religion. During this conflict, religious balance transferred between Protestantism and Catholicism. Spain and Ireland were dominantly Catholic. England was Protestant. The discord between religious beliefs led to confiscation of land and developed hatred between leaders which carried over into the development of America (Kennedy Cohen, 2013).

Spirituality of New England settlements significantly declined in the 1660’s. It was confirmed through the creation of a new formula for church membership, the Half-Way Covenant, in 1662. Events leading up to its creation were created by enormous pressure which plagued Puritan farmers, weakening their core values. Their core belief system was based on full spiritual conversion. Conversion was an intense, identifiable personal experience with God. He revealed their true heavenly destiny to believers once they were “converted”. Afterwar...

... middle of paper ...

...e Great Awakening. In D. M. Cohen, The American Pageant: A History of the American People Volume 1: To 1877 (pp. 87 - 88). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Cohen, D. M. (2013). The Salem Witch Trials. In C. Learning, The American Pageant: A History of the American People Volume 1: To 1877 (p. 73). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Goodell, W. (1968). Slavery and Anti-Slavery. New York: Negro Universities Press.

History.com Staff. (2009). Thirteenth Amendment. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/thirteenth-amendment

Kennedy Cohen. (2013). The American Pageant. Boston: Cengage Learning.

Kerber, L. K. (1990). The Revolutionary Generation. "The Revolutionary Generation," in Eric Foner.

Stroud, G. M. (1827). A Sketch of the Laws Relating to Slavery in the Several States of the United States of America. 1827: Kimber and Sharpless.