HIST 2250 American Religious History to 1865

This course will trace the history of religion in the United States through the Civil War. Particular attention will be paid to the intertwining of religion and colonialism; the tension between emerging Protestant hegemony and religious pluralism; the roles religion has played in justifying oppression and pursuing liberty in American history; and the development of religious communities such as Mennonites and Mormons in the American West. (3 lect.)

Credits

3 credits

Major Topics

• Transplantation of European theologies to the New World.
• The Great Awakenings, American religious fervor, and the development of diverse new American religious traditions.
• Rise of dominant white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant culture and its role in shaping the American nation.
• Religious justifications for suppression/oppression of other faiths/cultures.

Outcomes

In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:

1. Explore the rich diversity of religious experience in the United States to 1865. ASSESSMENT: may include class discussion, presentations, writing assignments, or tests.

2. Identify the impacts religions have had on our nation's history including western expansion. ASSESSMENT: may include class discussion, presentations, writing assignments, or tests.

3. Understand how various faith traditions, including those of indigenous cultures, have been shaped by their encounters with American governments and cultures to 1865. ASSESSMENT: may include class discussion, presentations, writing assignments, or tests.

4. Discover how the many varieties of religious expression in this country have shaped our culture and common heritage as a people. ASSESSMENT: may include class discussion, presentations, writing assignments, or tests.

5. Explain how religion has been used to justify the oppression of other groups. ASSESSMENT: may include class discussion, presentations, writing assignments, or tests.