Early American Religion

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The Christian Religion throughout America

Religion has been intertwined into the American identity ever since its early years. The role of religion in America's first colonies was one of the main focuses of its settlements. The men and women that came to America at the time were known as separatists to the British. They could not achieve reformations in the Church of England so in 1620 they left for Virginia but landed by mistake at Plymouth rock, where they would settle and begin to form a new society and government. Throughout the years, more settlements were created and different sects of Christianity spread throughout the middle and southern colonies making its way into the government, local laws, and everyday life of the American …show more content…
Just like the New England colonies, religion a part of everyday life throughout the country. In the New England colonies, church often lasted all day. New England towns built church centers where sermons were preached weekly, if not daily. During this time period it was the people’s job to attend theses services in order to be accepted into society. Depending on where a person lived in America at the time, religious practices would be practiced and interpreted differently. While the New England colonies had a stricter more “conform or be ostracized” approach to incorporating religion into their society, the middle and southern colonies were more relaxed, but not by much. The middle and southern colonies are similar to the kind of Christianity that are found in modern America. In the middle colonies, there was a mix of religions including Quakers, Catholics, Lutherans, and Jews. In the south there were many Baptists and Anglicans. This part of the country found itself in the middle of religious quarrels and intolerance between the different denominations of Christianity. Even though most colonists saw themselves as Christians, they did not live in a culture of religious cohesion. Different Christian groups at the time believed that their own practices gave the nation values that needed protection against …show more content…
Finney kickstarted the spiritual outpouring that would take over New York throughout the next several years according to American Horizons. Finney was one of many that spoke to people individually, in crowds, and on the streets that helped to spread religion even deeper into the American identity. Finney and many more like him “...encouraged Americans to reform their society, to bring it more clearly into line with God's plan”(445 Schaller). The phrase “burn over” district of upstate New York originated during this time. People were converting and repenting across the area, allowing once again religion to be the center of the American
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