Historical analysis reveals the evolution of revivalist nationalism in American evangelicals, highlighting how political mobilization supplanted personal conversion.
Key Points
Examine how American evangelicals developed revivalist nationalism between 1945 and 1980 to facilitate their mass transition into partisan conservative politics.
Conducted historical narrative case studies of key figures: Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Jerry Falwell, and Ronald Reagan.
Evaluated ideological shifts from mass conversion strategies toward organized political mobilization across postwar evangelical organizations.
Early postwar revivalism operated under the assumption that individual conversions would spontaneously produce national spiritual renewal.
During the 1970s and 1980 presidential election, the Religious Right shifted focus from personal salvation to political organizing and the defense of Christian nationalist principles.