In Their Own Words

This is a large-scale study of the legacy of American Puritanism, from its roots in 17th-century New England to the present-day, in shaping a peculiarly American brand of patriotism. Rooted in an activist theology that stressed collective rather than individual salvation, Puritan providentialism eventually migrated across sectional and sectarian lines and became a national narrative. By encouraging cohesion in a nation of diverse peoples and inspiring social reform, American patriotism has sometimes been a force for good. But the book also uncovers a darker side of the nation's patriotism, including its imperial tendencies and its nativism. Ironically, a great reversal has occurred in recent times, and today the most fervent believers in the Puritan narrative are the former "outsiders"--practicing Catholics and Southerners. Once the enemies of Puritanism, they have become its chief promoters.