Religion (Christianity)

The Distribution of Christianity in America

Map is mid-leading, overstating the strength of Catholicism Shows dominant religion in each county, but the county is overall more Protestant than Catholic. counties where Catholics are over 25%. 25% Catholics 20% Methodists 20% Lutheran 20% Baptist 15% other 75% of people are Protestant, but it would come out with a Catholic coloring. Map is accurate that Catholicism has more adherents than any other religion, but it is slightly deceiving

4 main clusterings of religion in U.S.? S.E. U.S. = ? Baptist Utah/Great Basin/Desert West = ? Mormons Upper Midwest/N. Great Plains = ? Lutherans Catholics = ? (2 main clusters) Northeast / large cities of Rustbelt Southwest

American Religious Concentrations. Why? Baptist → Southeastern U.S. Pre-Revolutionary War, Baptists had huge local autonomy seen as more native, more “American” than Anglican welcomed African-Americans who were rejected by mainline Protestantism, emphasized equality before God. Later during Civil War Era Appealed to southern whites as part of regional pride came to support slavery, white supremacism, etc. = “Southern Baptists” = reflects autonomy! Blacks leave to form breakaway churches but still self-identify as “baptist” = reflects autonomy! Therefore, clustering reflects local autonomy and regional pride Strong regional clustering of black and white southerners Lack of in-migration (due to little industrialization, slave-based or sharecropping economy) maintains homogeneity of “baptists”

American Religious Concentrations. Why? Lutherans → Upper Midwest/Northern Great Plains Northern Germans and Scandinavians bring Lutheranism Cultural preadaptation attracted Northern Europeans Migrants are attracted to a climate similar to their homelands because they know how to use that climate productively. THEY KNOW HOW TO FARM IT! RRs and state govts. recruited farmers (mid-to-late 1800s) Homestead Act Chain migration occurred as relatives continued to arrive. Remained dominant because of a lack of in-migration During the next great wave of European immigration (early 1900s), few new immigrants with different religions came to Northern Great Plains lack of industrialization, urbanization and/or economic opportunity besides farming Physical environment is arid (lack of water) and cold which discouraged the in-migration of other religions (non-Lutherans) Cultural homogeneity of Lutherans maintained

American Religious Concentrations. Why? Mormons → Great Basin, Desert West, Utah Internal migration for religious freedom, avoid persecution Google Mormons, Joseph Smith, polygamy and Brigham Young Remained dominant because of a lack of in-migration Not industrialized/urbanized Inhospitable climate = very dry/arid desert. Cultural homogeneity of Mormonism maintained. As families grow (high CBR) diffuses (relocation) outward to neighboring states (Idaho, Nevada etc.)

American Religious Concentrations. Why? Catholics (2 clusters) Northeast, Rust Belt Germans (some Southern Catholic) & Irish Catholics (mid-1800s) Early 1900s immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe See migration for push/pull factors for above groups. Why Northern cities? Industrial jobs Southwestern US/US-Mexican border How does this reflect Gravity model and Ravenstein’s laws? Proximity to Latin American source area of origin Repeal of quota laws/Latin America in stage 2 Farm laborers, illegal immigration Catholic Hispanics also in large cities outside of SW. Reflects size factor in Gravity Model Ravenstein Law #