As the founding of the new American nation approached, many believed that it should be free from the sinful institution of slavery. In 1776, the Quakers expelled anyone who owned slaves. Other denominations held similar views, but they did not stick until later in the 19^th century, as such thoughts were quelled in favor of presenting Britain with a united front. By the middle of the 1800s, anti-slavery sentiments were boiling to the top of Christian American thoughts again. In 1844, the Methodist church split over the Bishop of Georgia owning slaves, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was formed. The Southern Baptist Convention was created after similar circumstances. The Presbyterian church split during the Civil War in 1861. Christians on both side of the war preached in favor of their side. Following the Union victory, the white Southern population was held subservient to the North, and anger stemming from this was redirected towards the resident black population. The Ku Klux Klan was born from this resentment and was supported by many white southern Christians.

Feeling alienated from their former congregations, many freed slaves broke away and formed their own denominations. Churches such as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church were formed, as were the African Methodist Episcopal and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion in the North. Following the reconstruction, these churches formed an indispensable core of black society, as the black population was restricted from other prestigious positions. Most black leaders of the era were also ministers to their congregations.

Sojourner Truth was a former slave and activist. In her speech ‘Ain’t I a woman?’, she speaks for women’s rights by using herself as an example. She needs no special treatment. She is as strong as a man and can work as hard. She also counters a man’s argument – a that Jesus was not a woman therefore women deserve less rights – by explaining that Jesus was made from God and from a woman. The Son of God had nothing to do with men.

Frederick Douglass calls out the entire nation in a speech the day after the 4^th of July, 1852. He says, “This Fourth July is yours, not mine” (Douglass 1). Douglass says that the nation was founded on liberty and independence, but that those things are not extended to him. The principles the founders envisioned were not being upheld by the current generations. He references the fall of Judah, which was allowed to be conquered by Babylon because they did not follow God’s will. This is a not-so-subtle call to look upon America’s actions and change for the betterment of all society. At the end of his speech, Douglass references several biblical passages, hoping for the end of tyranny and oppression, the end of violence, and pledges to keep fighting for that day.