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1900
The roots of the Christian Identity movement can be traced back to the late 19th century with the emergence of British Israelism. British Israelism claimed that the British people were the descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel and that the British monarchy was directly descended from King David. -
1920
The movement gained further traction in the early 20th century with the publication of books like "The Trail of the Serpent" by Mary Stewart, which promoted the idea of a Jewish conspiracy to undermine Christianity. -
1949
The movement began to take shape in its modern form in the 1940s with the teachings of Wesley Swift, a former Methodist minister who founded the Church of Jesus Christ Christian, which became a key proponent of Christian Identity beliefs. -
1960
The movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly among white supremacist groups in the United States. Christian Identity teachings became increasingly associated with racist and anti-Semitic ideologies. -
1980
The movement faced increased scrutiny and opposition in the 1980s, with several high-profile incidents involving Christian Identity followers, including the Aryan Nations compound standoff in Idaho in 1984. -
1990
Despite facing legal challenges and a decline in influence in the 1990s, the Christian Identity movement continued to exist in various forms, with some groups emphasizing survivalism and preparing for apocalyptic events. -
21st Century
In the 21st century, the Christian Identity movement remains a fringe ideology, with most mainstream Christian denominations rejecting its teachings as heretical and racist. However, it continues to have a presence online and in some extremist circles.