Course Description
The significant developments in American religious history and thought from Puritanism to the present with attention to the social and cultural contexts in which various religious movements arose.
Athena Title
Religion in the United States
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in RELI 3150E, HIST 3150E, RELI 4107, RELI 6107
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to clearly and precisely express ideas about the history of religions in the United States and their impact on various groups throughout the country's history in written form by means of projects such as essays, papers, reports, and examinations.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to understand and effectively communicate - both written and orally - the intimate connection between religion and other aspects of American culture by participating in class discussions, writing assignments, and other assigned tasks.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to understand the connections among religion, culture,
ethnicity, race, and gender in U.S. history and synthesize evidence to reveal patterns, differences, and/or similarities in both written and oral arguments.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to determine how and to what extent major and innovative religious ideas and movements have impacted social, economic, and political aspects of American culture, while supporting, evaluating, and communicating their conclusions based on historical readings and related evidence.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to comprehend and evaluate the positive and negative relations between various religious bodies throughout U.S. history by attending lectures, completing readings, and using evidence to inform their evaluations.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to recognize and analyze religious impacts on groups and cultures throughout U.S. history and apply different perspectives on a variety of such situations.
Topical Outline
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Role of Religion in European Settlement in the U.S., 1500s - 1700s
- 3. The Role of Religion in the Interactions among Native Americans, African Americans, and European Americans, 1500s - 1700s
- 4. The Impact of Puritanism and Evangelicalism upon Colonial Institutions, 1600s - 1700s
- 5. Religion, the American Revolutionary War, and the Early National Period, c. 1770 - c. 1830
- 6. Religion, Social Reform, Slavery, and Race Prior to the Civil War, 1820 - 1860
- 7. Religious Elements and Impact during the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, 1861 - 1880
- 8. Religion, Industrialization, Urbanization, and Immigration, 1880 - 1915
- 9. Religion’s Impact during the Period of the Great Wars, 1915 - 1945
- 10. Religion, Civil Rights, and an Era of Rapid Social Change, 1945 - 1975
- 11. The Resurgence of Theologically Conservative Religion and Its Impact on Culture and Politics, 1975 - 2000
- 12. Increased Religious Diversity and Contemporary American Culture, 1975 - Present
