Abstract
This thesis looks at the importance of religion during the Civil War. The period before the Civil War was a turbulent time for major Protestant denominations. Protestantism helped polarize the nation, and when the different denominations broke apart over the differences on the view of slavery. In the 1830s and 40s, denominations split over the issue of slavery, and the North and the South increasingly pointed to each other as sinful, both using the Bible as their basis. The sins of the nation were defined differently in both the North and South. Different interpretations of the Bible were developing, as well as different perceptions of Jesus. When the war was raging, both sides claimed that God was on their side. This thesis addresses the importance of religion both before and during the Civil War as a polarizing and democratizing force.
Advisor
Duntley, Madeline
Department
Religious Studies
Recommended Citation
Vallenga, Ian, "Importance of Religion to the Civil War" (2001). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 4056.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/4056
Publication Date
2001
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2001 Ian Vallenga