Altar erected against altar: the impact of religious schisms in Missouri on the eve of the Civil War

Abstract

This thesis examines the role that the schisms in the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches played in the sectional crisis in Missouri. As a result of the research demonstrated within this thesis, it becomes apparent that each denomination played a role in exacerbating the onset of the Civil War in Missouri. The unity shattered by the schisms in turn had political consequences. Though, each denomination affected the larger culture and politics in Missouri in different ways, owing to the manner in which they underwent their schism. The Methodists, with the most severe schism had the greatest amount of conflict and political influence. The other two denominations were not as significant in this latter regard.