Secession As a Moral Imperative: White Southerners and Evangelical Theology
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SECESSION AS A MORAL IMPERATIVE: WHITE SOUTHERNERS AND EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY Pearl J. Young A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History. Chapel Hill 2018 Approved by: William L. Barney Brandon L. Bayne W. Fitzhugh Brundage Kathleen DuVal Joseph T. Glatthaar © 2018 Pearl J. Young ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Pearl J. Young: Secession as a Moral Imperative: White Southerners and Evangelical Theology (Under the direction of William L. Barney) This dissertation explores the ways in which white Southerners used evangelical theology to rationalize secession as a moral imperative. The secession of eleven states from the Union in 1860 and 1861 ripped asunder its political bond between the federal government and the individual state legislatures. Yet the rhetoric of evangelical Christianity present in the political documents of secession begs the question of how white Southerners connected a political choice with their religious sensibilities. Even if politicians appropriated religious language for their own purposes, they did so because they spoke to an audience that engaged with the world on religious terms. This dissertation eXamines five specific aspects of Southern evangelical theology as each was used in the context of secession. Evangelical Christians did not always agree on a common rationale (or even on theological matters), but the aggregate of their debates reflect the depth of the Southern sense of sectionalism and the eXtent to which religious fervor spilled into the political sphere. Firstly, Southerners viewed their region as an eXample to the world of an ideal Christian society, a testimony brought into sharper relief with secession. Secondly, they remained focused on the future with their hopes set on a coming millennium, which they believed could be brought into fruition by altering the political status quo. Thirdly, they valued the individual, a hallmark of evangelical theology iii that reinforced a growing political rejection of federal authority and outside criticism. Fourthly, they maintained a robust sense of providentialism, arguing that because God called the South to secede, Southern independence could not fail to be successful. Lastly, they deliberately and urgently chose secession out of a sense of moral obligation to a holy cause, dispelling any notion that they were merely victims of Northern aggression. iv To my grandmother Charmalee Owens Young (9/1929—3/2016) and to Emerson (4/2016— ). v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people made this dissertation possible. At the University of North Carolina, my adviser William Barney first suggested this idea of focusing on secession, and his mentoring, guidance, and encouragement have been a blessing each step of the way. I am thankful to the members of the committee Brandon Bayne, Fitzhugh Brundage, Kathleen DuVal, and Joseph Glatthaar for their timely advice and support, particularly in broadening the scope of this project. At Kennesaw State University, David Palmer, Alice Pate, and Stephen Bartlett have been great champions of my research endeavors. Many historians from my days at Emory University have continued to encourage me from afar, suggest new resources and paths, and offer critiques and suggestions. I owe much to these scholars who have become friends: Patrick Allitt, Joseph Crespino, Astrid Eckert, Robert Elder, Gary Hauk, Brooks Holifield, and James Roark. In the archives, many librarians became a vital part of this project. Thomas McCullough at the Moravian Archive and John McClure at the Virginia Historical Society took time out of their busy schedules to locate forgotten and hidden manuscripts for me; their dedication is inspirational. Jeremy Katz at the Breman Museum, Mary Jo Fairchild at the College of Charleston, John Bence and Kathy Shoemaker at Emory University, and Matthew Turi at the University of North Carolina offered many suggestions on material to consider and places to search. Gwendolyn Erickson at Guilford College helped me to vi navigate the records of Quakers in the South and to understand their methods of record keeping. I remain indebted to many archivists who duplicated material for me: AleXis Horst at the American Jewish Archives, John Varner at Auburn University, Benna Vaughan at Baylor University, Randall Bowman at Elon University, Scott Taylor at Georgetown University, Sarah Horowitz at Haverford College, Amy Kimball at Johns Hopkins University, Tammy Kiter at the New York Historical Society, Geoffrey Stark at the University of Arkansas, Janet Bloom at the University of Michigan, Mary Laura Kludy at the Virginia Military Institute, and Marc Brodsky at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. This project was made possible through the Department of History’s Mowry/Clein Dissertation Fellowship and the Raymond E. Faherty, Jr. Fund for military history. In my travels, generous friends opened their homes to me; they have no idea how much their hospitality expedited the research process. Many thanks to Guillermo Arboleda and Kelly Steele in Savannah, Adam Domby and Jennifer Kosmin in Charleston, Richard and Lily King in Richmond, Tim and Karen Little in Charlottesville, Tim and Joy O’Donnell in D.C., and Patrick and May Chang in Philadelphia. My parents, Jeff and Szuchi Young, offered much support, encouragement, and insight. My sisters, Phoebe and Crystal, have always believed in my potential and have endured hours of commentary on nineteenth-century life; they had no inkling how their knowledge of the German and French languages would become useful for my project, but their tireless support has been a great blessing. Along the way, many, many friends became part of this project. I am very thankful to Robert Colby who generously exchanged archival finds with me. Mishio Yamanaka was always a great listener and a good travel companion. I owe Jessica Misiak for many excellent suggestions on prose and sentence construction. Conversations with colleagues vii Eric Burke, Evan Faulkenbury, Brian Fennessy, Lorn Hillaker, Shannon James, Breana Keen, Joshua Lynn, Laurie Medford, Sarah Miles, Caroline Nilsen, Virginia Olmsted, Mark Reeves, AleXandria Ruble, Ethan Schwartz, Steven Weber, and Daniela Weiner helped to clarify ideas and solidify arguments. Joel and Teri Erickson, Colin and Leigh Miller, John-Paul and Priscilla Petrash, and Luke and Natalie Wetzel welcomed me into their homes without reservation. Whenever things seemed impossible, I knew I could count on Evan Dellon, AleXandre Huin, and Gary Maslow for faith and encouragement. All these friends made this dissertation possible. This project came into being at a very particular moment in my life. As this idea of connecting secession to evangelical theology began to crystallize, my social circle was also changing. That semester, my paternal grandmother passed away; less than a month later, a dear friend had a baby boy who quickly became a close companion. Grandma Young and I spent my childhood eXploring local history; our family had relocated to the South, and we were unfamiliar with and perpleXed by the ways and traditions of the South, especially its troubled past with slavery and its obsession with this war fought over a century before. She and I stumbled through it together, visiting forts, plantation homes, beaches, and battlefields across North Florida, eager to know more about this new place we called home. When she passed away, this project became one way to continue the tradition. In contrast, Emerson had no concept of time, the past, or ideology. Instead, he reminded me of the joy and delight to be found in learning new things and taking on new challenges. Every dissertation woe seemed less daunting after spending time with him. To these two who brought so much joy and renewal into my life, this dissertation is for you. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................ xii INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 1 THE HISTORICAL QUESTION .................................................................................................................................................... 5 ENGAGING WITH THE HISTORIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................... 14 Literature on Secession .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Literature on American Religious History ............................................................................................................... 18 Literature on Religion and Politics ............................................................................................................................. 26 DEFINITIONS, THEORY, AND METHOD ............................................................................................................................... 33 Lived Religion and Lived Theology ............................................................................................................................. 38 The Gender Question ........................................................................................................................................................