The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America

Frances FitzGerald's The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America traces the history and influence of evangelical Christianity in American life from the First Great Awakening to modern times. The book examines key figures, movements, and theological shifts that shaped both evangelical identity and its relationship to American politics. The narrative follows evangelical Christians' evolution from a religious movement focused on personal salvation to a significant force in national politics. FitzGerald documents pivotal moments including the rise of fundamentalism, Billy Graham's crusades, and evangelical involvement in the Civil Rights era and Culture Wars. The transformation of American evangelicalism emerges as both a religious and political story, revealing complex dynamics between faith, culture, and power in the United States. Through extensive research and historical analysis, FitzGerald presents evangelicalism as a movement that has both shaped and been shaped by broader American currents.

Readers describe this as a thorough historical account that stays neutral on controversial topics. Most appreciate FitzGerald's focus on how evangelical movements shaped American politics and culture from the 1740s through Obama's presidency. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex theological concepts - Documentation of evangelical influence on politics - Balanced treatment of different evangelical viewpoints - Research depth and extensive citations Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Limited coverage of Black evangelical churches - Too much focus on well-known leaders rather than grassroots movements - Ends in 2016, missing recent developments "The author presents facts without judgment, letting readers draw their own conclusions," notes one Amazon reviewer. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) New York Times Book Review: "Detailed and authoritative" Publishers Weekly: "Comprehensive but occasionally dry"

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📚 Frances FitzGerald won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for "Fire in the Lake," her groundbreaking analysis of the Vietnam War, before turning her attention to evangelical America. ⚡ The book traces the evangelical movement from the First Great Awakening of the 1730s through the 2016 presidential election, spanning nearly 300 years of American history. 🏆 "The Evangelicals" was a finalist for the 2017 National Book Critics Circle Award in nonfiction and won the 2017 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. 🗣️ While researching the book, FitzGerald attended numerous evangelical churches and conferences across America, immersing herself in the community to gain firsthand understanding. 📊 The book reveals that by 2016, white evangelical Christians made up 26% of the American electorate, making them one of the largest and most influential voting blocs in the country.