Women in Early American Religion 1600-1850 - 9780415098144

Taylor & Francis

This volume explores the first two centuries of America's religious history, examing the relationship between the socio-political environment, gender politics and religion. > \nWomen 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, the American Revolution, and the second flowering of popular religion in the nineteenth century.\nTracing the female spiritual tradition through the Puritans, Baptists and Shakers, Westerkamp argues that religious beliefs and structures were actually a strong empowering force for women. > Chapter 1 Women, the Spirit, and the Reformation; Part 1 Part I The Puritan heritage; Chapter 2 Wives and mothers in the colonial New E.