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Immigration
The United States acts as a religious refuge for people suffering from religious persecution in other foreign countries. -
Pilgrims came to the New World
Came to Massachusetts and believed that the Church of England was a true church, but was in need of major reforms. -
Puritans came to the New World
Came to the New World to purify the Church of England and to gain the liberty to worship as they choose. Still supported the Old World, though. -
Quakers came to the New World
Radical Puritans and were persecuted in Europe and incarcerated because of their beliefs. -
Social Gospel Movement
Sought to apply the gospel teachings of Christ. Preached salvation through service to poor. Demanded better housing and living conditions for the urban poor. -
Enlightenment
Emphasized the power of human reason to understand and shape the world. Appealed to urban artisans and well-educated men and women from merchant or planter families. -
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1st Great Awakening
Focused on church goers. Split churches into warring factions It was a reaction to churches’ earlier failure to take account of people’s emotional needs. Created new denomination “New Lights”. -
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American Revolution
Religion played a major role by offering a moral sanction for opposition to the British—an assurance to the average American that revolution was justified in the sight of God. -
Revitalist Movement
Baptists and Methodists. New sect of Universalists preached universal salvation. Camp meetings. -
Judaism
Well educated Jews came to the United States from Germany in the 19th century. Many Jews came to the United States in the 1980s from the Soviet Union to escape religious persecution. Jews also fled Germany in the 1940s and 1950s because of the Jewish concentration camps in Nazi Germany. -
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2nd Great Awakening
Focused on the unchurched. Wanted moral reform and even impacted foreign diplomacy. The religious revival really helped make the U.S. what historians call a Christian society. Change the denominational make up of American religion. Women began “working”, or helping their ministers, by holding prayer meetings and providing material aid to members in need. Fostered cooperation among denominations. People began waiting to have sex until marriage. Formed the core of our nation's identity. -
African Americans Break away from the Church
African Americans broke away from the church and in 1815 Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. -
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Progressive Era
Driven by urban middle class. Fought against Monopolies, Corruption (usually political),Inefficiency, and Social Injustice. -
Jehovah's Witnesses
The number of Jehovah's Witnesses increased in the 1950s and has grown very rapidly. -
Religion and the middle class
“Godless communism” spread during the Cold War. Church membership jumped 49 to 70% as well. -
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Salem Witch Trials
Began when Tituba, the female slave of Reverend Samuel Parris, was accused of being a witch. Young girls from Salem pretended to be bewitched in order to seem like victims. Many innocent people were hung because of this. The girls were hung when the town learned they were lying. -
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Conservative Resurgence Movement: The Religious Right
Large numbers of Catholics and Protestants began getting involved in politics in the 1970s and 1980s. Things fought against: Growing public acceptance of divorce, abortion, premarital sex, and feminism, and lenient punishments for criminals, permissive sexuality, and welfare payments to unmarried mothers with multiple children.