This chapter is from the book American Church History: A Reader, which is an introduction to the diverse role that Christianity has played in American history. The multi-perspectival approach of the volume reflects not only the pluralistic nature of Christianity's role in American culture but also the breadth of interpretive methods used in the study of American religious history. Brief but substantial bibliographies after the general introduction and each essay will provide useful guides to students and scholars interested in pursuing research on a particular topic.