A peaceful conquest : Woodrow Wilson, religion, and the new world order

A century after his presidency, Woodrow Wilson remains one of the most compelling and complicated figures ever to occupy the Oval Office. A political outsider, Wilson brought to the presidency a distinctive, strongly held worldview, built on powerful religious traditions that informed his idea of America and its place in the world. With __A Peaceful Conquest__, Cara Lea Burnidge presents the most detailed analysis yet of how Wilson’s religious beliefs affected his vision of American foreign policy, with repercussions that lasted into the Cold War and beyond. Framing Wilson’s intellectual development in relationship to the national religious landscape, and paying greater attention to the role of religion than in previous scholarship, Burnidge shows how Wilson’s blend of Southern evangelicalism and social Christianity became a central part of how America saw itself in the world, influencing seemingly secular policy decisions in subtle, lasting ways. Ultimately, Burnidge makes a case for Wilson’s religiosity as one of the key drivers of the emergence of the public conception of America’s unique, indispensable role in international relations. As the presidential election cycle once again raises questions of America’s place in the world, __A Peaceful Conquest__ offers a fascinating excavation of its little-known roots. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 14 1. From Reconstruction to Regeneration 23 2. Christianization of America in the World 44 3. Blessed Are the Peacemakers 67 4. New World Order 90 5. A Tale of Two Exceptionalisms 119 6. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Woodrow Wilson 140 Conclusion: Formulations of Church and State 172 Notes 178 References 202 Index 222