Varieties of religious Americanism: religion, historical writing and political advocacy in the late PDF
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University of Iowa Iowa Research Online Theses and Dissertations Summer 2012 Varieties of religious Americanism: religion, historical writing and political advocacy in the late- nineteenth century Annie Parker Liss University of Iowa Copyright 2012 Annie Parker Liss This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3340 Recommended Citation Liss, Annie Parker. "Varieties of religious Americanism: religion, historical writing and political advocacy in the late-nineteenth century." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2012. https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.1nqcy2lu Follow this and additional works at:https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd Part of theHistory Commons VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS AMERICANISMS: RELIGION, HISTORICAL WRITING, AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY IN THE LATE-NINETEENTH CENTURY by Annie Parker Liss An Abstract Of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in History in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa July 2012 Thesis Supervisors: Associate Professor Douglas C. Baynton Professor Jeffrey L. Cox 1 ABSTRACT Despite the prevailing rhetoric of religious liberty in the nineteenth century, Protestant religious values dominated historical and public policy discourses. Histories celebrated Anglo-Saxon Protestant triumphalism, while laws regarding blasphemy, temperance, Sunday observance, polygamy, and religious instruction in public schools, as well as the Federal Indian mission policy, amply demonstrated Protestant influence on various levels of American government. My dissertation examines intersections of religion, historical writing, and political advocacy in the late nineteenth century. I focus my study on the Gilded Age (1865-1900) because of the importance American history assumed during this time. American history became an established part of public school curricula and university studies, and amateur and professional historical studies flourished as individuals sought to understand and preserve American national identity. I argue that historical writing by religious thinkers played a central role in the construction of religious nationalisms in the late-nineteenth century, while also informing the public policy position of their adherents. Using a case-study approach, I examine key thinkers representing mainstream Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Seventh-day Adventism, Quakerism and Reform Judaism. These religious intellectuals wielded the new historical sensibility to comment, from the perspective of their religious beliefs, on the nature of American public and private institutions, immigration restriction, Sabbath laws, race relations, and questions of war and pacifism. Their aim was to construct a vision of America’s past, present, and future that would allow believers to wholeheartedly embrace an American national identity without compromising their beliefs. Current historical literatures on religion and nationalism criticize prevailing Anglo-Saxon Protestant views of the nation in the Gilded Age yet frequently fail to address how others in the period understood themselves and their place in American 2 society. In contrast, this study provides a balance of views including outsider contributions to American political culture. Methodologically, a comparative and thematic approach provides an analytical alternative to historical narratives that either focus on dominant coherent narratives or those that present the “messy realities” of American national culture. Moreover, in contrast to current historical literatures which claim that marginalized religious groups in America constructed variant nationalisms based on binary “insider” or “outsider” identities, I argue that these classifications overlook significant subtleties. Finally, rather than simply focusing on “conflict” or “exclusion,” this study demonstrates negotiation and participation. While strategic choices varied, grounding national identity in history and theology ensured the persistence of religious components in American political cultures. Abstract Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS AMERICANISMS: RELIGION, HISTORICAL WRITING, AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY IN THE LATE-NINETEENTH CENTURY by Annie Parker Liss A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in History in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa July 2012 Thesis Supervisors: Associate Professor Douglas C. Baynton Professor Jeffrey L. Cox Copyright by ANNIE PARKER LISS 2012 All Rights Reserved Graduate College The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ___________________________ PH.D. THESIS ____________ This is to certify that the Ph. D. thesis of Annie Parker Liss has been approved by the Examining Committee for the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in History at the July 2012 graduation. Thesis Committee: _______________________________________________________ Douglas C. Baynton, Thesis Supervisor _______________________________________________________ Jeffrey L. Cox, Thesis Supervisor _______________________________________________________ Tom Arne Midtrod _______________________________________________________ Colin Gordon ______________________________________________________ Raymond A. Mentzer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS During my long and arduous journey of writing a dissertation, I have incurred numerous debts to individuals who have provided invaluable support and assistance. First, I would like to thank the teachers and mentors who inspired me to pursue a career in history. My undergraduate advisors Betty Jo Wallace and Paul Conkin introduced me to the thrill of historical studies by their passion and by challenging me intellectually. Their high standards of teaching and scholarship were only exceeded by their compassion and support for a struggling student who had discovered meaningful engagement with the past in their classes. I owe a tremendous debt to my graduate school mentors. I began this project under the direction of Dwight Bozeman, whose close and careful readings of my prospectus and early chapters were invaluable. The always excellent Jeff Cox has been a mentor in the fullest sense of the word in my teaching and in my scholarship. Through his high energy, sense of humor, and dedication to the highest teaching and research standards he has inspired me to continually strive for excellence. As my co-advisor, he has enthusiastically challenged me to critically review my research and writing, and has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his attempts to improve my work. The always generous Doug Baynton stepped into the role as my co-advisor with grace and aplomb in the middle of my dissertation writing. Without his continual encouragement and support it would have been impossible for me to finish. For their research assistance, I offer my warm appreciation to the librarians and archivists of the Philip Schaff Library at Lancaster Theological Seminary, the Andrews University Archives at the Center for Adventist Research, the Special Collections Research Center at Georgetown University, and Haverford College’s Quaker and Special Collections (who were the “friendliest” archivists of all!). ii Many of my friends and colleagues have provided sympathy, advice, and read and commented on chapters. I am grateful for the support of Margie Anderson, Meghan Mettler, John McKerley, Matt Conn, Matt Gilchrist, Sabrina Sanchez and Daniel Tyx. Moreover, my colleagues at the South Texas College History Department provided a writing colloquium for those of us working on writing projects, and adapted my course schedule and teaching load to allow time for research and writing. I owe perhaps the most to those in my personal life who have borne more than their share of the burdens of dissertation writing. The dissertation has been hanging over my head for my entire married life, and my husband John Liss has unselfishly agonized and rejoiced with me with every setback and mark of progress. My mother Linda Parker, in addition to providing emotional support, accompanied me on research trips when I was ill, and has tirelessly and cheerfully been a parent to my son while I was working. My son Johnny entered my life during chapter three, and from the moment of his arrival he refused to share me with my books or computer. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every undivided moment we have spent together has been precious. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 Selection of Sources ............................................................................... 3 Periodization ........................................................................................... 5 Theory ................................................................................................... 13 Historiography ...................................................................................... 15 Philip Schaff (1819-1893) and “Mainstream” Protestants ................... 24 John Shea (1824-1892) and Conservative Catholicism in America ................................................................................................ 25 Uriah Smith (1832-1903) and Seventh-day Adventists ........................ 25 Simon Wolf (1836-1923) and Reformed Judaism ................................ 26 Isaac Sharpless (1848-1920) and Quakers ............................................ 27 Significance .......................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER I. “VARIETY IN UNITY, UNITY IN VARIETY”: PHILIP SCHAFF’S VISION OF AND ADVOCACY FOR A PROTESTANT MAJORITY .......... 30 Schaff’s History .................................................................................... 34 Schaff’s View of the Present ................................................................ 52 The Reunion of Christendom, 1893...................................................... 64 II. “GOOD CATHOLICS, GOOD CITIZENS”: JOHN SHEA’S CATHOLIC CRITIQUES AND CLAIMS REGARDING AMERICA ............ 68 The Meaning of Religious Liberty and Citizenship in American History .................................................................................................. 75 The Meaning of American Sunday Laws, Indian Missions, and Religion in Public Institutions .............................................................. 86 Current Threats to America ................................................................ 109 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 114 III. “HUMAN LAWS VS. DIVINE”: URIAH SMITH AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST OPPOSITION TO SUNDAY LAWS ........ 116 Millerite Backgrounds of Seventh-day Adventists Apocalyptic Theology and Oppositional Identity ................................................... 120 Literature Review: Adventists as Outsiders and the Role of Apocalyptic Beliefs in Their Identity Formation ............................... 123 Smith’s Apocalyptic Writings ............................................................ 130 Adventists and Politics ....................................................................... 141 IV. “A BETTER AND MORE PATRIOTIC CITIZENSHIP”: SIMON WOLF AND REFORMED JUDAISM IN AMERICA .............................................. 155 Wolf’s Historical Vision ..................................................................... 162 Wolf and the Present ........................................................................... 177 Wolf’s Early Lobbying ....................................................................... 178 Church and State ................................................................................. 180 Jews in Eastern Europe and Russia .................................................... 191 iv
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