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4 BCE
Catholicism
Beginnings with the teachings of Jesus Christ, Catholicism became the most prominent religion for immigrants to the New World. This came in the form of Catholics seeking religious freedom and those that practiced it in catholic countries. -
Jan 1, 1517
Lutheranism
Lutheranism originated when Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis of complaints against the catholic church and its teaching. He sought to reform the church with a more biblical foundation. -
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John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a puritan lawyer that lead a group of Puritans to the New World. He joined the Massachusetts Bay Company and became governor of the Massachusetts Bay in 1630. -
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Anne Hutchinson
Ann Hutchinson caused a schism in the Puritan community in the Massachusetts bay colony. She was banished from the colony and started anew in Rhode Island. -
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Roger Williams
Roger Williams earned a charter for Rhode Island and instituted one of the first Baptist Churches. He was also notable for supporting the separation of church and state and religious toleration. -
Puritinism
Puritanism sought to purify the Anglican church and fled England to America for religious freedom on the Mayflower in 1620. They tried to create a model society to be "a city upon a hill." -
The Maryland Colony
Designed as a refuge for Catholics, the Maryland Colony was founded in 1634. It chiefly made money through tobacco and indentured servanthood. -
Baptism
Starting in America in Rhode Island during 1639, Baptism is centered around the belief of an individual being baptized as a public profession of faith and is comprised of evangelical Christian denominations. -
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Wiliam Penn
William Penn received a charter form King James II to create a colony in present day Pennsylvania. He was a early proponent of democracy and religious freedom. -
The Toleration Act
The first inclination to freedom of religion, The Toleration Act allowed all denominations of Christianity to observe their practices in Maryland. This however, was only for Christians. -
Pietism
Starting in the 17th and 18th centuries, pietism started within the Lutheran church and stressed personal piety and devotion. This lead to a new denomination of fervent believers. -
Quakerism
Quakerism, a protestant denomination, found refuge in Pennsylvania. Here they sought to the simplicity and spirituality f early Christianity. -
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Salem Witch Trials
Done in Puritan communities, the Salem Witch Trials were hearing of witch craft where over 150 people were accused of witchcraft, which was punishable by death. During the trials many false accusations were made. -
The Enlightenment
Known as the Age of Reason, The Enlightenment valued logic over spirituality and it questions traditions and morals. It was also created to elevate the status of humanity in an optimistic way. -
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Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards used very emotional and fiery tactics to ascertain converts to christianity. He is well known for his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" that served to scare many people into converting. He also fathered the First Great Awakening. -
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George Whitefield
George Whitefield was a preacher who had a idiosyncratic style of preaching, talking about love and forgiveness. His actions lead to the missionary works in the Americas targeted toward indians and africans. -
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John Knox Witherspoon
John Knox Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister who was very politically active in creating the American religious identity and signed the Declaration of Independence. -
First Great Awakening
A time of immense religious fervor, the First Great Awakening was a direct counter to the decline of ideals of The Enlightenment. In this time, Protestant ministers held revivals all around America stressing the need to repent. -
New Lights Vs. Old Lights
During the First Great Awakening, Old Lights were the traditional believers in their religion while New Lights were the modern thinking people who strongly supported the Great Awakening. -
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John Carroll
John Carroll, voted by the clergy of the catholic Church, became the first bishop in the United Sates. His diocese included all 13 colonies although he was appointed to Baltimore. -
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Francis Asbury
Francis Asbury was one of the first Methodist Episcopal ministers in the United States. Most notably, he traversed all around the Appalachian Region and perfected the practice of mobile evangelicalism. -
The Shakers
Known for their idiosyncratic dancing movements, The Shakers, started by Mother Ann who was thought to be the female part of God, had equality for the sexes. -
Methodism
Coming to the united states in the mid 18th century, Methodism was founded by John Wesley taking from his Wesleyan ideals. Methodism is Episcopal. -
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William Miller
William Miller was a Baptist preacher in the United States. H is credited with starting the Adventist movement. This occurred during the Second Great Awakening. -
Virginia's Disestablishment
In 1786, the state of Virginia officially cast of the Anglican affiliation it had up to that point. Being one of he first states to provide religious freedom, it's actions set a precedent for the first amendment. -
Black Churhces
Forming since 1790, black churches were formed by freedmen due to segregation and followed many of the popular denominations. These churches supported schooling for freedmen and abolitionism. -
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Charles Finney
Revolutionizing the Protestant Church, Finney pioneered cooperation with all of the Protestant denominations and believed that an individual's destiny was in their own hands. He also started the Social Gospel Movement. -
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John Joseph Hughes
John Hughes was the archbishop in New York. He attacked abolitionists and free-soilers. As well, he attacked Protestantism, stating that it was dying and he predicted an eventual catholic majority. -
Cane Ridge Camp Revival
At Cane Ridge in 1801, mostly Protestant, Methodist, and Baptist ministers spoke in the midst of the Second Great Awakening. This sparked the drive for churches to actively seek out members. -
Second Great Awakening
Starting in 1801, the SGA was based on Methodism and Baptism. It influenced the creation of many moral movements like prison reforms and attracted women, blacks, and native Americans along with white males. -
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Brigham Young
Brigham Young became the successor of the Moron Church after Joseph Smith. He traveled with his sect to Utah after breaking apart from the Mormon Church, having a university there named after him. -
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Started by Richard Allen in 1816, the AME was the first independent black Protestant Church in the United States. It formed due to segregation and it also promoted education for free blacks. -
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Ellen Gould White
Ellen White was one of the founders of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Along with Joseph Bates and James White,she created the denomination in 1863. -
Religious Defense of Salvery
Occurring primarily before 1830, the defense of slavery based on religion stated that the Bible justified the enslavement of Africans. -
Transcendentalism
Originating in the 1830's and 1840's by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Transcendentalism stressed the connection between God, Man, and Nature. -
Mormonism
Started by Joseph Smith in 1830, the Mormon Church moved to Utah after a schism and prevailed. Joseph Smith's denomination did not support the act of polygamy. -
The First Latter-Day Saints Temple
Originating with Joseph Smith, the Kirtland Temple was the first Mormon temple created in the United States. It was created after the churches separation and flee to Ohio. -
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Dwight L. Moody
Dwight L. Moody was an evangelical preacher who brought traditional revivalism to urban cities. He was apart of the Social Gospel movement and founded an institute in 1889. -
Wesleyanism
The Wesleyan Church originated in 1843 by a group of ministers splitting from the Methodist Episcopalian Church. The teachings are seen in the Methodist and Holiness churches today. -
YMCA
Starting in London, the YMCA taught physical and religious lessons. It created the idea of Muscular Christianity and it soon reached out to women. -
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Baptist and Protestant denomination. The denomination was started by Wilson Lumpkin, William Johnson, and others. -
Perfectionism (Oneida Community)
Due to the new ideals with the Second Great Awakening, people thought perfection was attainable and many groups ventured out to create these societies. The Oneida Community in 1848 was an example of one of these communities. They all, however, failed. -
Social Gospel Movement
The SGM occurred during the second half of the 19th century. Many protestant denominations began to teach the tie between salvation and good deeds, mainly to improve living conditions. -
Social Gospel
Occurring during the second half of the 19th century, the social gospel movement was lead by protestant reformers. Their goals were to improve urban conditions. During this time, women also
began to speak up for suffrage. -
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Billy Sunday
Billy Sunday was a prominent player in the National League in Baseball. He became a fundamentalist minister who in the midst of segregation, preached seeking salvation through Jesus and opposing radical and progressive groups. -
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
The WCTU attempted to mold women into politics. The foundation fused religion in with moral reform. This most specifically took to prohibition but however was politically unsuccessful. -
Church of God
Originating in Cleveland Tennessee, the Church of God is one of the largest Pentecostal Christian denominations. It was started by a group of Christians at the Barney Creek Meeting House. -
Progressive Era
The progressive era was marked by social change in all levels of society and government. As well during this period, charitable work flourished and so did the idea of emotional, self sought relationships with God. -
Billy Graham
Billy Graham became one of the first televangelists and became a star during his religious revival. He became very prominent and believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible. His following lead to the religious revivalism of the 50's. -
Scopes Trial
The Scopes Trial was a debate over if Darwinian Evolution should be taught in schools. The uproar showed the traditional religious values present within urban societies at the time. -
Minersville School District v. Gobitis
In this case, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that allowed students to be forced to salute and recite the Pledge of Allegiance despite religious identity. This ruling was over ruled three years later. -
Everson v. Board of Education
In this court case, the Establishment Clause was applied to the Bill of Rights. This stated that congress could not make a law that supported an establishment of religion. -
1950's
During the 1950's, the ideal, nuclear family was created. With the spread of television, televangelists like Billy Graham had a far reaching effect on society as their actions were able to reach and convert many. -
Braunfeld v. Brown
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that a Pennsylvania law not allowing the sale of certain goods on Sundays was not unconstitutional due to the First Amendment. -
Torcaso v. Watkins
in this case, the Supreme Court upheld that the Constitution prohibits religious tests of any kind for public office. -
Engel v. Vitale
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for state official to require a school prayer or encourage one within a public school. -
Fourth Great Awakening
During the 70's, evangelical church membership soared due to the Fourth GA. It was able to reach more of a crowd than ever due to the spread of television and radio. -
Lemon V. Kurtzman
In this court case, the Supreme Court struck down a Pennsylvania law that reimbursed religious schools for textbooks and salaries. -
Wisconsin v. Yoder
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that Amish children could not be forced into school past 8th grade. This was because the freedom of religion out weighed the states desire to educate its children. -
McDaniel v. Paty
In this case, the court ruled that a state law forbidding ordained ministers from running for office was unconstitutional. -
1980's
During this time, a moral revival was present. This took the form of religion in politics like having a prayer be apart of school and fundamentalists disapproving of secular humanism. -
Sentamentalism
Originating in Europe during the Romantic Movement, Sentimentalism stressed the importance of emotion. This caused the young to marry for love and not heir parents choice. -
Epperson v. Arkansas
In this court case, the Supreme Court ruled that a law in Arkansas which prohibited teachers from instructing on evolution was unconstitutional due to the Establishment Clause.