Varieties of religious Americanism: religion, historical writing and political advocacy in the late

287 Pages·2017·2.27 MB·English

by  Annie Parker Liss

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
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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!).
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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.

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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
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