1800-1860: Religion: Publications

Robert Baird, Religion in America, Or an Account of the Origin, Progress, Relation to the State, and Present Condition of the Evangelical Churches in the United States, with Notices of the Unevangelical Denominations (New York: Harper & Row, 1844)—a classic analysis of American religious history that emphasized the West’s impact on religious developments;

Lyman Beecher, A Plea for the West, second edition (Cincinnati: Truman & Smith, 1835)—a widely read tract on the role of the West in the nation’s destiny, to which is appended a lengthy expose of a supposed Catholic conspiracy to take over the Western regions;

Black Hawk, Life of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or, Black Hawk (Boston: Russell, Odiorne, & Metcalf, 1833)—the reminiscences of this Sauk leader concerning the mistreatment and betrayal of the Indians in the antebellum period made him a native spokesman for all time;

Alexander Campbell, The Christian System, in Reference to the Union of Christians and a Restoration of Primitive Christianity, as Plead in the Current Reformation (Bethany, Va.: 1839)—Campbell’s synthesis of the theology behind the Christian movement, which served as a guide for believers for many decades;

Peter Cartwright, Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, the Backwoods Preacher, edited by W. P. Strickland (Cincinnati: Hitchcock & Walden, 1868)—the experiences of a Methodist preacher who itinerated for more than fifty years in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois;

George Catlin, Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Conditions of the North American Indians; Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians of North America, 2 volumes (London: The author, 1841)—a record of the Plains Indians by a sympathetic observer during his travels from 1832 to 1839;

Pierre-Jean De Smet, Oregon Missions and Travels Over the Rocky Mountains in 1845–1846 (New York: E. Dunigan, 1847)—a famous Jesuit’s reports to his superiors on his Western travels during the 1830s and 1840s;

Charles Grandison Finney, Lectures on Revivals of Religion (New York: Leavitt, Lord / Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1835)—readable explanations of Finney’s new measures, which effectually institutionalized revival techniques;

Barton Stone, The Biography of Eld. Barton Warren Stone, Written by Himself (Cincinnati: Published for the author by J. A. & U. P.James, 1847)—the memoirs of a leader in the Kentucky revivals, including the Cane Ridge camp meeting, and a founder of the Christian movement;

John Greenleaf Whittier, The Stranger in Lowell (Boston: Waite, Peirce, 1845)—this poet’s description of “a Mormon Conventicle” offers a New England perspective on the appeal of the Latter-Day Saints.