Perfectionist politics
Subtitle: abolitionism and the religious tensions of American democracy
By: Douglas M. Strong.
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Religion and politics
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Syracuse, N.Y
Language: eng
Number of pages: 263
Subjects: Liberty Party (N.Y.); Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Abolitionists -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Slavery and the church -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Evangelicalism -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Perfection -- Religious aspects -- Protestant churches.; United States -- Church history -- 19th century.; New York (State) -- Politics and government -- 1775-1865.
Description: Perfectionist Politics is the story of an important but overlooked antebellum reform movement: ecclesiastical abolitionism. Douglas M. Strong examines radical evangelical Protestants who seceded from pro-slavery denominations and reorganized themselves into independent antislavery congregations.

Mirroring political abolitionist activity - particularly in the "burned-over district" of New York State - the ecclesiastical abolitionists formed a network of abolition churches that became the primary focus of Liberty Party electioneering strategy. Ecclesiastical abolitionists justified this clear connection between church and state through their experience of evangelical perfectionism. A vote for the Liberty Party became a mark of one's holiness.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-256) and index.