Christianity and Democracy

Revision with unchanged content. This is a study of popular perceptions of the issues of Christianity in their connection with the issues of democracy. Such perceptions are common in a popular type of drama of the early 19th century - the plays about American Indians. For the characters of these plays, "church religion" is not the only option; they favor equally well the democratic moral code, including personal freedom and obligation towards fellow countrymen. The following conversation between three Kentucky riflemen is a good example: Ralph. [drinks] Still you know I never gets drunk-I'm a duly sober man. Frank. But I thought on the last 4th- Ralph. O Frank, that's part of my religion,-on the 4th and 22d. Arthur. Why Ralph, I never knew before that you ever got religion. Ralph. Got religion! I'm choke full of it.-But understand me-not church religion. ... My religion is-not to stop the Mail-to mind my own business, and let other people's alone. (R. Emmons, Tecumseh: or, The Battle of the Thames, 1836) The occurrences of this kind are typical and systematic: plays about American Indians consistently juxtapose two sets of values-Christian and democratic-so that the values of mercy and benevolence come alongside the values of freedom and patriotism. The book is addressed to English teachers and students and other readers who are interested in American popular literature of the early 19th century.