Breakdown:

1. Introduction: Christian Nationalism and White Supremacy in America
   • Christian nationalism and white supremacy are not new concepts in American history. From the founding of the nation, Christianity has been used as a justification for the domination of Native peoples and Black slaves. The idea that America is meant for white Christians has deep historical roots.
2. Biblical Justification for Colonization and Slavery
   • Early English settlers used the Bible, particularly Genesis 1:28 (“be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth”), to justify the colonization of Native lands. While some missionaries, like John Elliott, tried to convert Native tribes, the majority of efforts were aggressive and often violent, as seen in the story of Pocahontas, where colonization efforts used religion as a tool of oppression.
   • The Atlantic slave trade also became necessary for European colonizers, with many Christian slave owners in the South using the Bible to justify the enslavement of African people. Some cited the Old Testament story of Noah’s son Ham, using it as an excuse for perpetual servitude. Christian leaders, like Georgia Bishop Stephen Elliott, even celebrated slavery as a way to “civilize” Africans, demonstrating how Christianity was twisted to support white supremacy.
3. Post-Civil War: The Lost Cause and Christian Identity
   • After the Civil War, Southern white Confederates used Christianity to create the “Lost Cause” myth, which painted the South as victims rather than perpetrators of slavery. This led to the development of the Lost Cause religion, which merged Christian piety with Confederate heroism and laid the foundation for today’s white Christian nationalism. The idea that the old South, with its white supremacy, would “rise again” was compared to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. Civil Rights Era and Christian Nationalism
   • During the Civil Rights era, white Americans, particularly in the South, used Christianity to oppose desegregation and justify bigotry. As open racism became less socially acceptable, many white Americans turned to private religious schools to maintain segregation under the guise of religious freedom. This was the beginning of modern white Christian nationalism, which aimed to preserve white supremacy while avoiding legal repercussions.
5. The Rise of the Christian Right: Moral Majority and Political Power
   • In the 1970s, as America became more progressive, conservative white evangelicals felt their power was threatened by issues like reproductive rights, gay rights, and secularism. In response, Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1976, mobilizing Christian conservatives to reclaim political power. This organization laid the groundwork for the powerful evangelical voting bloc, which continues to influence American politics today.
6. Modern Christian Nationalism: Merging Religion and Politics
   • By the 1980s, the Christian right had successfully aligned itself with the Republican Party, helping Ronald Reagan win the presidency. This movement has persisted, with modern candidates using Christian nationalist rhetoric to appeal to conservative voters. The evangelical voting bloc remains essential to any right-wing candidate, even if they are not personally religious, as long as they espouse the views that align with Christian nationalist ideals.
7. Conclusion: The Continuing Influence of Christian Nationalism
   • Christian nationalism continues to play a significant role in shaping American politics and society, rooted in a long history of using religion to justify domination and exclusion. As the country evolves, understanding this history is crucial in addressing the ongoing influence of white Christian nationalism in modern political movements.

This breakdown highlights the historical development of Christian nationalism in America, showing how religion has been used as a tool to justify white supremacy and maintain political control.