"Religion in the Civil War: The Northern Perspective" Topic

"After Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in April 1861, the vast majority of Northern religious bodies—with the exception of the historic "peace" churches which on principle adhered to pacifism—ardently supported the war for the Union. Of these groups, Protestants still enjoyed a significant numerical and cultural dominance in the 1860s. Catholics and Jews provided notable (and heretofore insufficiently researched) support for the war; but Protestants, given their numbers and position in American life, contributed religious or theological justifications of the war that had wider social and political impact. To examine Protestant attitudes in the 1860s is thus to learn much about the popular mood and motivations of Northerners as their "boys" marched off to war. We will look at three of these attitudes of Northern Protestants:…"
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

It is an interesting topic that shouldn't be overlooked. In the modern context of the civil rights movement it explains the difference between rural northern areas of the US then vs now. The churches whipped up a strong current of liberal anti-slavery anger that might be quite opposed to the normally more conservative leaning of the local population. Interestingly, I have family members in a small PA town that hold almost pro-southern views. They were quite surprised when I showed them the history of their own town and how to a man most people had quite a different view on things. It seemed to me allot of this difference was do to the strong influence of the Methodist church in their area. Although, they were close enough pre-war to have seen the runaways streaming north. that would be a factor, too. I hope I said this in a way not to step into modern politics.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!.

Amicalement
Armand

Historian Jared Frederick discusses the impact that religion had on soldiers and leaders from both the North and South during the Civil War.

YouTube link

Armand