Children of wrath
Subtitle: New School Calvinism and antebellum reform
By: Leo P. Hirrel.
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Lexington, Ky
Language: eng
Number of pages: 248
Subjects: New Haven theology; Calvinism -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Congregational churches -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Presbyterian Church -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Reformed Church -- United States -- Political activity; Church and social problems -- Reformed Church -- History -- 19th century; Church and social problems -- United States -- History -- 19th century; United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861; United States -- Church history -- 19th century
Description: Leo Hirrel redefines the origins of the early nineteenth-century social reform movements by exploring the relationship between religion and reform efforts during a crucial period in American history. He illustrates the fundamental importance of religious ideas to the notion of reform and shows the New School at work reforming traditional Calvinism to fit an agenda of social change.

Hirrel focuses on New School Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Led by ministers such as Nathaniel William Taylor and Lyman Beecher, these congregations were at the forefront of reform efforts and provided critical leadership to anti-Catholic, temperance, antislavery, and missionary movements. Their religion was an attempt to reconcile traditional Calvinist language with the prevailing intellectual trends of the time.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [220]-241) and index.