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