The tie that binds

American Public University

Charles Town, West Virginia

A Research Proposal

Arthur Fields

History 500

Dr. Goetz

I.

Tentative Title

The Tie that Binds:

The role of Christianity in Introducing Africans into Civil Society in the United States of America.

II.

Research Problem

Saving the souls of the common people has always been the goal of many religious folk in multiple societies around the globe throughout history.  The same aspirations can be found in segments of the population in America.  Religious folk try to explain the ways of the world and how to properly live in the world that God has made.  It could be argued that in the United States of America some form of Christianity (Protestant, Catholic, or Mormon and more) has been the belief system that many Americans adhere to in their daily lives.  

The purpose of this research is to examine the role Christianity has played in introducing Africans into American civil society.   This research will examine the interrelationships between Africans, African Americans, European Americans and their belief in Christianity and how this belief in Christianity lead to the emancipation of Africans and inclusion into American society on a more equal bases rather than slaves.  This Research will look at the “gradual” process of Africans becoming Africans Americans. 

This research will try to answer the Question:  Did Americans belief in Christianity cause Africans to be freed and educated in order to be effective members of American Society?  In 1630, on the ship Arabella, John Winthrop, speaking a sermon to Puritans came to the Americas with an idea:  To make a Christian community to be emulated by the world:  “A city upon a hill which all eyes can see.”  The seeds of Christian dogma begin to spread in the United States during early colonial times.  As the gospel of Christ spread in the New World the vile practice of slavery spread condemning generations of Africans to lose their humanity and become a pawn of the agriculture juggernaut of the South producing cotton and other agrarian products for European markets to consume.   

John Wesley, an ordained minister in the Anglican Church and founder of Methodism, believed slavery was a crime against humanity.  Combined with the Enlightenment Era thoughts about the “rights of men” slavery was a blight on the beliefs that were taking shape in the United States of America. For instance, the institute of slavery is in direct conflict with the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence that “the unalienable right…to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  Thomas Jefferson goes as far as blaming the king of England for having the colonist practice the dehumanizing system of slavery. 

During the Great Awakening and the early days of United States of America and colonial times, John Wesley sermons  help plant the seeds of Christian ideology (which has messages against the institute of slavery) in Americans thoughts that leads to the Second great Awakening in the United States of America.   During the Second great Awakening the ideas of Christianity swept across the United States and a majority of the population embraced Jesus Christ as a savior and began to change the way life was being lived in the United States of America.  The Second Great Awakening allowed Methodism to grow and expand with other Christian faiths.    

The Primary Christian sects this research will be examining are Methodism, Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church of God in Christ in the relationship to the emancipation of Africans from the dehumanizing practice of slavery.  This paper will argue that the Christian religious nature of American Society brought Africans and European American together on more equal terms.   Moreover, Methodist were instrumental in helping Freedmen obtain education and the skills needed to become effective citizens in the United States of America.  Slavery had placed iron chains on the development of African communities (stagnated growth) by having laws and customs in the United States that kept the majority of Africans in bondage preventing them from becoming citizens.  

Christianity was a major part of the collective consciousness of the United States from the late 18^th century to the early 20^th century.  Even today, it could be argued that Christianity is a major part of Americans thoughts and action.  The purpose of this research is not to argue that Christianity created an equal and just society or makes the United States exceptional compared to other nations around the globe.  Moreover, the paper is not making a statement concerning the causes of the American Civil War.  However, this paper will make a moral judgment and condemn slavery as institute that is not in line with the principles of freedom and democracy envisioned by the “Founding Fathers” of the United States of America.    This paper will argue that Christianity had an effect on its followers that lead to the freeing and educating of Africans and allowing them to gradually become full citizens of the United States.  Christianity creates a tie that binds among its followers in the United States that attempts to make model citizens out of all practitioners of the belief.        

The reason this research is being conducted is to demonstrate that Christianity has had a profound impact on the hearts and minds of American people and produced positive changes that has made the United States a country to emulate.   This research is looking at the “gradual” acceptance of Africans as citizen from a condition of bondage due to Christian beliefs embedded into the American thought process.  American morality was not buried in some cryptic scientific approach to moral reasoning generated by philosophers in an academic setting but comes from a simple acceptance of Christ.    Basically, Americans like and want to be like Jesus and help people.  For instance, I will argue the desire to help people as a Christian leads to the abolitionist movement in the United States to remove the burden of slavery from the backs of Africans.  In addition, the Freedman bureau, a combination of government and religious folk, came together to help African Americans through education learn to be effective citizens in a democracy.  This research will discuss if it is a simple acceptance of Christ that makes one Christian or is there a way of life one must abide by or be demonized and excluded from society. 

In order to test this hypothesis I will be looking at the spread of Christianity across the United States from Colonial times to the end of Reconstruction.  I will be looking at the sermon of ministers by the different sects of Christianity to their followers, their way of life and what they believed, and how they wanted to change society for the good based on their beliefs.  Christians held such deep conviction that they were willing to die for their beliefs.                             

III.

Literature Review

In order to gain background information and develop arguments for my research project I will be examining the ideas John Wesley in Thoughts upon Slavery.  The anti-slavery ideas of John Wesley are the foundation of Christian thought I wish to explore.  For instance, John Wesley ideas give birth to three separate views about slavery: North European American view, Southern European American view, African American view.  The Methodist Episcopal Church (M.E.C), founded on the moral teachings of John Wesley, was a single entity before a break in the church in c1840 concerning the issue of slavery.  Moreover, In 1794 Robert Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church basing their belief system on the teachings of John Wesley.  Furthermore,   Donald Matthews’s Slavery and Methodism: A Chapter in American morality 1780-1845 is be used in order to trace the idea of Methodist towards slavery. Matthew’s book is a little dated but is being used to track historian’s perspective towards Methodism and Race over time.   Finally, The book Methodist and the Crucible of Race 1930 – 1975 by Peter Murray is another expert perspective discusses some of the moral issues facing the Methodist Church after Reconstruction and post the Civil rights movement.     

In addition, the Anthology:  African American Religious Thought, edited by Cornel West, a leading African American intellectual and historian, and Eddie Glaude is consulted to get an understanding of the African and African American religious beliefs.  In this research, I make a distinction between: Africans and African Americans.  Africans are in a condition of bondage while African American are either born free or are freed from slavery by various means.  This distinction is made because there is a “gradual” process of Africans being admitted into the Union and becoming citizens.     Paul Harvey’s book Through the Storm, Through the Night: A history of African American Christianity is consulted for its perspective on Africans adoption of Christianity in the gradual process of becoming citizens.  Harvey tells the story of Africans accepting Christianity from the trans-Atlantic Slave trade to religious revivals in cotton fields after the Civil War.  Moreover, Paul Harvey’s Christianity and Race in the American South: A history, describes the relationship between African American and European Americans and how race and religion comes together to establish a structured society controlled by the color of skin and religious beliefs.  I am evaluating the ideas of Christianity that produced similar a different results in the North and South.  For example, Northern Methodist wanted Africans to be free but did not want to have Africans Americans partake in communion or sit in the front pews in the church.  Northern Methodist where not the care free freedom fighters for rights for African Americans but practiced discrimination against African American thus the rise of the African Methodist Church (A.M.E.) 

Next, a series of books will look at the ideas, development and spread of the various religious factions across the United States to ascertain the beliefs of the members of the religious groups. I will be looking at the sermons and growth rates of the differing sects of Christianity.  For instance, Kyle Bulthuis book Four Steeples over the City Streets: Religion and Society in New York’s Early Republic, follows the interaction of four congregation in New York City and how they come to terms with race and religion from colonial time to pre-civil war America.  New York City was a major source of abolitionist rhetoric that agitated for the freeing of Africans.  In addition, Philip Greven’s book The Protestant Temperament describes the religious experience of Protestants during the 18^th and 19^th centuries.   Using a combinations of primary sources like letters between friends and family, diaries and journals, Greven tries to illustrate the daily lives of Protestant Christian Americans.  In the book Rise to Respectability: Race, Religion and the Church of God in Christ by Calvin White the author relates to the reader the rise of the Church of God in Christ in the belief construct of African Americans.  The Church of God in Christ brought Christian moral values to the emancipated Africans. 

Another source of interest for this research is the beliefs of Southern Christians before and after the Civil War.  John Jones book Christ in Camp: Or Religion in the Confederate Army is the primary source this research will look at to understand the religion of the South during the Civil War.   Christ in Camp is a expert perspective, drawn from diaries, correspondence, interviews and memory about the relationship the Army of North Virginia had with God.  For instance, the Army of North Virginia would stage revivals to ensure the troops were in line with God.  People of the time period would argue that the ebb and flow of the American Civil War was based on the will of God.  Next, the book Rebuilding Zion: The Religious Reconstruction of the South discusses the various Christians sects from either African or European heritage that used religion to help heal the wounds of the Civil War.   Was reconstruction in the South after the Civil War, too much too fast for American Society?  This paper is arguing that there is a “gradual” process of Africans becoming accepted into American Society.       

                    

    

IV.

Definition of Terms

Abolitionist:  a person that wants to see the end of slavery, especially in the northern state of the United states before the American Civil War.

African: A person from Africa that is in a condition of bondage in the United States.  African is used to denote the condition of bondage Africans are in in the United with no or little rights.

African American: A person from African descent that has limited rights as an American citizens.  The term is used to represents African that were born free or achieved a freedom through some event in their personal lives.  For instance, I will argue Fredrick Douglas went through a process of being a slave till he gained his freedom and entered civil society.  As an African he could barely read as an African American he started a newspaper.

African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.).  The African American form of the Methodist Church started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Robert Allen formed the A.M.E. after experiencing discrimination in the Methodist Episcopal Church.  

American: a citizen of the United States.

American Missionary Association (A.M.A):  The A.M.A. is Baptist organization that came together to spread the word of God and educate African Americans in liberal and skills

Baptist:  a sect of the Christian religion that requires member to be fully submersed in water to be a member of the Church.

Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.):  The Church of God in Christ is an African American Christian religious sect that formed out of revival being held among slave on the plantation.  Northern African American Methodist view the members of C.O.G.I.C. for their lack of education

Freedmen:  African after the end of the civil war. 

Freedman Bureau:  Governmental organization formed to manage abandoned land after the Civil War and give direction to the millions of Africans freed after the civil war.

European American:  An American citizen with European ancestry.  

Methodist:  A mainline protestant Christian sect in the United States started by John Wesley during the First Great Awakening.

V.

Background of the Problem

           

            The path to freedom for Africans in North America has been an arduous process to say the least: from a majority of Africans being property with minimal rights during the founding of the country to creating communities that have been able to produce leaders for American Society.  The purpose of this research is to examine a segment of the “gradual” process that has allowed African Americans to become citizens of the United States of America.  This research will argue that the ideas and moral teaching of Christianity has been a major factor that has allowed Africans to become American citizens.   Most Africans and Europeans came to the United States of America to work.  Multiple languages and people from around the globe have come to America seeking a better life but clash due to different languages and religions.  Africans came to North America in a condition of bondage with a different religion, language, and skin pigmentation.  Africans were similar to aliens from another world to Europeans.  This paper will argue that Christianity was the “tie that binds” the United States together and caused the emancipation of Africans and lead to them being educated and becoming effective members of American society.

According to James Madison, in the Federalist Papers 10, the United States is composed of multiple factions that compete for political power.  The factions this paper will be examining over a period of time are the Methodist Episcopal Church (M.E.C) which spilt into Northern Methodist, Southern Methodist, Baptist, African American Methodists, and members of the Church of God in Christ.  These factions share a common belief in Christianity but some desire to keep African in the bondage of slavery while other work desperately to end the cruel institution.  Some have argued that slavery was not a horrendous and vile system of labor but actually provided an excellent environment for slaves.  If a good environment existed for slave it was due to the Master’s belief in Christianity.  However, based on the overall theme of the United States: “All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights.” The institute of slavery makes these words of freedom sound hallow and hypocritical.  There was a need to correct the flaw among members of American society.

Christianity has an interesting role in the history of the United States of America.  On the one hand, those who follow the tenets of the faith develop prosperous communities that contribute the betterment of American Society.  For other, Christianity has been a nightmare that has caused death and destruction everywhere the word of the messiah has been spread in the America.  For instance, many Native Americans will say Christianity was the cause of their culture decline.    

The research of this paper will conclude that American’s Christian values gave way to Africans “gradually” becoming American citizens.  The First and Second Great Awakenings sowed the seeds of Christina thought into the fabric of American culture.  The “Golden Rule,” do unto others, as you want done to you, coupled with Enlightenment ideas of the “natural rights of men” leads to a desire in the heart and minds of many Northern European American to help African escape from the horrific situation fate had dealt them.  I will argue based on Christian beliefs that slavery was “hard pill to swallow” for many Southern European Americans due to Christian values.         

VI.

Research Method

The method used to conduct this research is document retrieval of primary sources and literature review of experts in the field.  

VII.

Research Limitations

First, I am relying on information that was transmitted to me over time.  I am making an argument based on documents and not my personal experience.  However, personal experience can be wrong because the human memory does not function at 100% efficiency.   Second, I do not have a back ground in psychology.  I am making a value judgment about behavior pattern with no expert training.  I will be making the argument that the internal mind set of the Northern European American detested the institution of slavery and the negative treatment of African, based on Christian indoctrination and the “Spirit of 1776”, that they found it an obligation to right a wrong in American history and pursued a public path that resulted in the emancipation of Africans leading them to becoming citizens of the United states of America.  There could be other valid reason that will make people help others but this research will determine that Christianity creates the moral value system people follow in the United States.  Moreover, I do not have a back ground in religious studies.  I am relying on the sermons of the pastor to determine the thoughts of the parishioners.  I can only take their actions to represents those thoughts in reality.    

   

Bibliography

Adams, Kevin, and Leonne M. Hudson, eds.  Democracy and the American Civil War: Race and African Americans in the Nineteenth Century.  Kent: The Kent State University Press, 2008.

  

The reason this book has been selected is because the editors brought together several experts in the field of history to discuss race relations and democracy in the United States during and after the American Civil War.  The essays explain the ideas of some abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln, the Cherokee Nation and Slavery, the role of the Army as Posse Comitatus and the return of Southern white dominance to the socio-economic system of the South.  

Bulthuis, T. Kyle.  Four Steeples Over the City Streets: Religion and Society in New York’s Early Republic Congregations.  New York: New York University Press, 2014. 

           

The author Bulthuis examines the interactions of parishioners of four churches from colonial times to pre-civil war America.  The book deals with the members of the four churches trying to establish religious, social, and racial justice in New York.  The book is selected to get a picture of religious life in New York and how religion effected the actions of people.

Cimbala, A. Paul, and Randall M. Miller, eds.  The Great Task Remaining Before Us:  Reconstruction as America’s Continuing Civil War.  New York:  Fordham University Press, 2010. 

The editors of the book bring to the reader’s attention a series of case studies trying to understand the Civil War and Reconstruction.  The Civil War had changed every aspect of American society.  For example, African Americans were now free.  The book tries to answer a variety of question, however, this book is selected because it attempts to answer the role of the “Negro” in the new American socio-economic system.

Cumbler, T. John.  From Abolition to Rights for All: The Making of a Reform Community in the Nineteenth Century.  Philadelphia:  University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. 

The author of the book Cumbler analyses the change in focus of reformers from Abolition to help everyone be all that they can be.  Moreover, the author attempts to explain the downfall of reconstruction, which sows the seeds for the progressive movement.  Furthermore, the natural rights argument gets suppressed in favor of social Darwinism and the survival of the fittest.   

Davis, Hugh.  “We will be Satisfied with Nothing Less”: The African American Struggle for Equal Rights in the North during Reconstruction.  Ithaca:  Cornell University Press, 2011. 

The Author Davis discusses the political ideologies of African Americans in the North before the Civil War.  African American in the North desired equal rights under the law.  Moreover, the book relates to the reader the relationship between African American and European American in the North and the need to produce effective change in American society in order to raise the station of African American in the United States.      

Franklin, H. John.  Reconstruction after the Civil War:  Second Edition.  Chicago:  University of Chicago Press, 1995. 

This book has been selected to understand the socio-economic conditions African Americans faced after the Civil War.  Moreover, the author gives an account of the actions Freedmen took to elevate their status in society.  In addition, the author addresses some of the reason reconstruction in the southern states failed.   

Greven, Philip.  The Protestant Temperament:  Patterns of Child-Rearing, Religious Experience, and the self in Early America. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1988.

The Author Greven presents to the reader the religious experience of Protestants in America from the seventh and eighteenth centuries.  Greven gathers historical evidence from primary sources such as journals, diaries, correspondence, and family records to paint a picture of Protestant life in early America.  This book is selected to get an overview of Protestants attitudes towards society in general.

Hankins, Barry.  The Second Great Awakening and the Transcendentalist.  Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood press, 2004.

The author Hankins describes the Second Great Awakening and how spiritual leaders from this time period in American history impacted socio-political status quo and challenged American belief towards gender and race.  This book is selected because it presents Biographical information about various leader like the famous feminist Susan B. Anthony and the Transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alcott.  Moreover, the author has brought together a series of annotated primary documents to help the reader understand the time period.   

Harvey, Paul.  Christianity and Race in the American South:  A History.  Chicago:  The University of Chicago Press, 2016. 

This book has been selected to better understand the relationship between race and religion in the Southern states.  In the north, religion was used to develop an egalitarian society, while in the south, religion creates a stratified society.  African American and European American believed in the same God, this book attempts to describe the relationship.  

Harvey, Paul.  Through the Storm: Through the Night: A History of African American Christianity.  Lanham: Rowan and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011.

The author Harvey describes how African Americans Christian tradition allowed for survival while being enslaved until limited freedom was achieved after the American Civil War.  Harvey traces the beginnings of African American Christianity from the chaos of the transatlantic slave trade to flourishing communities in the United States.  This book has been selected to understand the conversion of Africans to Christianity. 

Houck, W. Davis, and David E. Dixon, eds.  Rhetoric, Religion and the Civil Right Movement Vol 2.  Waco: Baylor University Press, 2006.

           

The editors of the book Houck and Dixon are presenting evidence to the reader that the Judeo/Christian heritage of the United States leads to the adaption of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The editors have searched numerous universities libraries, government records, private collections and churches to support their claim.   The book is selected to have a collection of primary sources that recount the hopes and fears of Christian African American in relationship to dealing with a society that has marginalized their existence. 

Jones, W. John.  Christ in the Camp or Religion in the Confederate Army.  Atlanta:  The Martin & Hoyt Co, 1904. 

This book is selected because it represents the religious views of the Confederate Army.  This books describes the beliefs of the Confederate Army from the seasoned top ranked soldier like General Robert E. Lee to the unknown recruit fresh off the farm writing home to mother. 

Matthews, G. Donald.  Slavery and Methodism: A Chapter in American morality, 1780-1845.  New Jersey:  Princeton University Press, 1965. 

The reason this book has been selected is because it traces Methodist’s views towards slavery in the North and the South.  Ideas from one person generates two entirely different views in the United States.  On the one hand John Wesley sermons are used to undermine the institution of slavery on the other hand it used to support slavery.   

Miller, M. Randall, Harry, S. Stout, and Charles, Reagan, Wilson, eds.  Religion and the American Civil War.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1998.

The editors of this book bring together a cross section of intellectuals to discuss the Question: “What did religion have to do with the American Civil War?”  The reason this book has been selected is because it looks at the effects religion has on those fighting in the Civil War.  There are differing views on the roles of religion for the North and the South and this book sheds a light on the role Christianity plays for the North and South. 

Mintz, Steven.  Moralist and Modernizers: America’s Pre-Civil War Reformers.  Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 1995.

The author Mintz presents to the reader the United States first “age of reform”.  Mintz tells the tale of reformers attempting to remove the injustice from American society by secular means prior to the Civil War.   Moralist during the time period tried to construct a new moral order.   This books is selected to determine how Christianity fits into the process of freeing slave.

Murray C. Peter.  Methodist and the Crucible of Race, 1930-1975.  University of Missouri Press, 2004.

The author Murray presents the view point of Methodist church in regards to race relationship in the United states from 1930-1975.  The author discusses some of the socio-political issues confronting the Methodist church.  This book has been selected in order to analyze the position of the Methodist Church post reconstruction till the Civil rights act of 1964.

Rable, C. George.  God’s Almost Chosen People: A Religious History of the American Civil War.  Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2010.

The author Rable is a well-known author chronicling the life and actions of President Abraham Lincoln.   In this book Rable presents to the reader the role of religion in the everyday life for Americans during the Civil War.  People from the North and the South believed they were doing God’s work during the War.  This book was selected to understand the relationship of Christianity had with people in North versus people in the South.

Remillard, Arthur.  Southern Civil Religions:  Imagining the Good Society in the Post Reconstruction ERA.  Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 2011. 

The author Remillard tells the story of Religious beliefs of Southerners after being defeated by Union Armies after the Civil War.  The South thought they were righteous and doing God’s work before hostilities broke out but fell short of God’s plan in defeat to the North.  The book discusses what people in the South believed after being defeated.  Even though the South lost the Civil War they still believed in God.  The book is being used to determine: How does this belief in God prevent African American from being treated equally before the law?     

Richardson, M. Joe.  Christian Reconstruction: The American Missionary Association and Southern Blacks. 1861-1890. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 2006. 

This book is selected because it relates to the reader the activities of the American Missionary Association (AMA) and its anti-slavery activities.  Moreover, The AMA was instrumental in educating African American after emancipation.  In addition, the books documents the programs the AMA implemented to help African Americans get land, political and civil rights and establish school to help African American become full citizens. 

  

 Samito, G. Christian, ed.  Changes in Law and Society during the Civil War and Reconstruction: A Legal History Documentary Reader.  Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2014.

 The Editor of the book brings together a large selection of primary documents that deal with the law and how it affected African Americans quest for freedom in the United States.  This book has been selected to analyze the coping mechanism African Americans used to deal with new laws and societal conditions that effected African Americans equality before the law, economic self sufficiency, and voting rights.  

Schweiger, B. Beth, and Donald G. Mathews, eds.  Religion in the American South:  Protestants and Others in History and Culture.  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press, 2004. 

This book has been selected to better understand the religious culture of the south over a three century period.  The editors of the book brought together carefully selected essays that discuss the interaction of religious beliefs in the south.  For instance, a large influx of Catholic came to the United States and how their beliefs system effected the institution of slavery and freedmen after the war. 

Stowell, W. Daniel.  Rebuilding Zion: The Religious Reconstruction of the South, 1863 -1877.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. 

This book has been selected to examine the interaction of the different perspective (Northern European American, Southern European Americans, free African Americans, and freedmen). Each perspective had a different view as to what to expect from Reconstruction.  The Northern European American where on a crusade to save the south from the evils of slavery and Southern European Americans were trying to re-establish their relationship with God and African Americans are somewhere in between.     

Wesley, John.  Thought Upon Slavery, 4th ed. Dublin: 1775. 

This book is a primary source containing the founder of Methodism ideas about slavery.

West, Cornel and Eddie S. Glaude, eds.  African American Religious Thought: An Anthology.  Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003. 

The Editors of the book West and Glaude come together to present a landmark anthology that discusses African American Religious thought over time.  The anthology is a collection of religious ideas from multiple African American communities and how they are applied from the early 19^th century to the present.  This book was chosen because Cornel West is a well-known intellectual and a master at understanding African American religious thought and political action.

White, Calvin, Jr.  The Rise to Respectability: Race, Religion, and the Church of God in Christ.  Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 2012. 

This book has been selected because it documents the rise of the predominately African American church, The Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.).  This church is a form of Christianity that came from the beliefs of plantation slaves.  This branch of Christianity represents another “self- help” organization trying to uplift the African American community after slavery.