American Quakerism changed dramatically in the antebellum era owing to both internal and external forces, including schism, industrialization, western migration, and reform activism. With the "Great Separation" of the 1820s and subsequent divisions during the 1840s and 1850s, new Quaker sects emerged. Some maintained the quietism of the previous era; others became more austere; still others were heavily influenced by American evangelicalism and integration into modern culture.

Examining this increasing complexity and highlighting a vital religiosity driven by deeply held convictions, Janet Moore Lindman focuses on the Friends of the mid-Atlantic and the Delaware Valley to explore how Friends' piety affected their actions-not only in the evolution of religious practice and belief but also in response to a changing social and political context. Her analysis demonstrates how these Friends' practical approach to piety embodied spiritual ideals that reformulated their religion and aided their participation in a burgeoning American republic.

Based on extensive archival research, this book sheds new light on both the evolution of Quaker spiritual practice and the history of antebellum reform movements. It will be of interest to scholars and students of early American history, religious studies, and Quaker studies as well as general readers interested in the history of the Society of Friends.

About the Author

Janet Moore Lindman is Professor of History at Rowan University. She is the author of Bodies of Belief: Baptist Community in Early America and coeditor of A Centre of Wonders: The Body in Early America.

Reviews

"Lindman's pairing of textured descriptions of pious practices with accessible accounts of how the Society of Friends changed over time makes her book an excellent introduction to the history of Quakerism in 19th-century America, a study I would recommend students new to the field to consult first."

-Jay David Miller Reading Religion

"[This] book provides an intimate look at Quaker life during the antebellum period, which should be considered essential reading for scholars of the Religious Society of Friends."

-Rob Perry Religious Studies Review

"Overall a meticulously researched study of American Quakerism spanning the antebellum era, it is a significant contribution to Quaker History, the development of the early Republic, religious studies, and women's history, with attention to the role of Quaker female leadership in nineteenth-century social reform."

-Emily Molesworth Teipe Catholic Historical Review

Awards
Nominated for Philip S. Klein Book Prize 2024.



Book Information
ISBN 9780271092652
Author Janet Moore Lindman
Format Hardback
Page Count 284
Imprint Pennsylvania State University Press
Publisher Pennsylvania State University Press
Weight(grams) 513g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 25mm