Religion and Revolution

Religion in America

Religion as a Cause of Revolution

• Revolutionary heritage

• Resistance to Catholicism and tyranny

• Resistance to Anglican hierarchy

• Millennial expectations

• Great Awakening; French & Indian War, 1754-63

• Quebec Act of 1774

• Took away assembly, legalized Catholicism, expanded borders

Attempt to land a bishop
in America, 1769

War and the Churches

• Congregational clergy: solid supporters of the war

• Sacred cause of liberty

• Memories of Charles I and Cromwell

• Loyalist churches split

• Anglican Church dealt severe blow

• Methodist Church fades

• Presbyterians divided

• John Witherspoon, Presbyterian Founding Father

War and the Churches

• Baptists reluctant

• Catholics support the Revolution

• Charles Carroll, Catholic Founding Father

• Quakers: pacifists versus Patriots