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Different Religions
There were many religious groups during the Civil War. After
the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, though, most of these
groups supported the Union’s fight. Many groups such as the
Jews, Catholics, and Protestants gave their support for the
war, but others that were more peaceful didn’t want to take
sides. There were three reasons why these religious groups
supported the Union.
- America’s place in history
-Northern victory a prelude to the millennium
-the issue of slavery
America’s place in History
The first reason that some religious groups supported the
Union, was because America had a significant place in history
that couldn’t be destroyed. The Union was like the perfect
ideal, with its Christian values and if the Confederates won,
the rebels would ruin this ideal. The Union also used a
republican government as an example to other countries. If
the Confederacy won, the republican government would look
like a failure. This is why the Protestants, Jews, Catholics, and
more wanted the Union to win; to preserve their place in the
world.
A prelude to the Millennium
Another reason the religious groups looked to support the
Union, was so that it would prepare the way for the Kingdom
of God on Earth. They thought a Northern Victory would
bring them power in the religious world and they could
prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus. The defeat of the
rebellion, they thought, would bring a reign of Jesus which
would be more significant on Earth. Religious groups usually
counted in millennial terms, and the North’s victory would
bring the next millennium where they could prepare for Jesus’
reign.
The issue of Slavery
These religious groups also thought that God was working in
favor of the Union and that would help their cause. Some
that were in support of the Union were appalled by slavery
and wanted it abolished immediately, but others that were in
support of the Confederacy said that the Bible said slavery
was okay. Many church leaders fell into the middle of these
two extremes. They didn’t fully support slavery, but they also
thought the people attacking slaveholders were sinful people.
Both sides of religious groups believed of the reign of God, yet
they both had different views on the slavery issue.
Religion in the actual War
Many soldiers in the Civil War were very religious and there
were very few atheists. Sometimes when soldiers weren’t at
war, they would go to churches nearby. Others found their
religion just by carrying the Bible around with them. Many
army units had chaplains, or someone who would say prayers,
in their unit. The chaplains were people who would help out
in any way. These people would go to the hospitals where
there were soldiers and they would say prayers or just
comfort them when the soldiers were hurt or they would
write letters to the families of dead soldiers. Sometimes the
chaplains would even march with the soldiers during war.
They just helped out any way they could
Religious value in the Armies
During the war, many people started to complain about the
soldiers being exposed to bad things and not having enough
religion. President Lincoln thought that religion was very
valuable and shouldn’t be forgotten, so he hired chaplains for
all of the Union’s army units, to be religious guides for the
soldiers. The Confederates didn’t hold the same value for
religion like the Union, though. They didn’t provide for
chaplains in every army unit like the North and the few that
they had didn’t receive very high pay. The South did not think
the same way as the Union. They wanted more men that
would fight in the war, rather than men who would preach
about God.
Which groups supported which side?
North supporters
• Protestants
• Jews
• Catholics
South supporters
• Baptists
Women and religion during the Civil
War
When men left their wives to go to war,
women turned to religion and faith to keep
them going. With men gone, religion started
to give women leadership skills and it moved
up their ranks in churches. Usually this
happened in the South where women found
refuge in their faith and religion. Their faith
and religion also helped them through difficult
times during the war.
African American religion during the
Civil War
Many African Americans used their religion to
pray for a better world and a reformed society
where there was no slavery. In their religion,
they expressed moral improvement in
societies, charity work and kindness towards
others, and focus on peace and tranquility.
Many African Americans, like Frederick
Douglass, had faith that God would support
the abolitionist cause.
Bibliography
• http//www.brucegourley.com/civilwar/gourle
yhistor7.htm
• http//www.brucegourley.com/civilwar/gourle
yhistor8.htm
• http//www.nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tser
ve/nineteen/nkeyinfo/cwnorth.htm
• http//www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-warreligion.html