ABSTRACT

Women in Early American Religion, 1600-1850 explores the first two centuries of America's religious history, examining the relationship between the socio-political environment, gender, politics and religion
Drawing its background from women's religious roles and experiences in England during the Reformation, the book follows them through colonial settlement, the rise of evangelicalism with the 'great awakening', the American Revolution and the second flowering of popular religion in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Women in Early American Religion, 1600-1850 traces the female spiritual tradition through the Puritans, Baptists and Shakers, arguing that it was a strong empowering force for women.

chapter 1|8 pages

Women, the Spirit, and the Reformation

part I|64 pages

The Puritan heritage

chapter 3|18 pages

Prophesying women

Pushing the boundaries of patriarchy

chapter 4|20 pages

The devil’s minions

part II|110 pages

The rise of evangelical religion

chapter 5|29 pages

Witnesses to the New Light

chapter 6|27 pages

Gender, revolution, and the Methodists

chapter 7|24 pages

Domestic piety

Mothers, missionaries, and the Holiness movement

chapter 8|19 pages

The reformer’s pulpit

chapter 9|9 pages

Voices and silence

Women, the Spirit, and the Enlightenment