Burned-over District: Social and Intellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion in Western New York, 1800-50

by Whitney R. Cross

"Burned-over District was a name applied to a small region, during a limited period of history, to indicate a particular phase of development. It described the religious character of western New York during the first half of the nineteenth century. Time, subject, and area have thus all combined to confine the scope of this book. The study has nevertheless seemed rewarding, mainly because its implications transcend all three limitations. “The meaning expands in a geographical sense because this one area provides a case history in the westward transit of New England culture. Likewise, it is representative as a sample of the change from youth to maturity in a single section affected by continuing westward movement. The subject of religion has broader significance in this period and locality than might at first appear. This section was the storm center, and religious forces were the driving propellants of social movements important for the whole country in that generation. As far as time goes, this book is an illustration of the way in which the minds of one era help to form the destinies of succeeding generations. Neither the causes of the Civil War nor the origins of national prohibition, to cite only two prominent examples, can be thoroughly understood without reference to the Burned-over District."―from the Preface

Genres: Religion, History, American History, Nonfiction, Historical, Church History, American

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been commonly believed for over 150 years that an Ameican Rosetta stone which will allow the enigma of the American Character to be decoded and known lies buried somewhere in Western New York state. Once it is discovered by archeologist, all things will become known to man.

Whitney Cross' informative book describes the problem. Between 1800 and 1850 every bizarre and weird American idea was born in Western New York state from where it slowly spread until it occupied the entire continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and the other Pacific Islands.

The region was named the Burned Over District because the Fire of the Holy Spirit had passed by so often that that the region was completely scorched. The Seventh Day Adventist and Mormon religions were born in the burned over District. The Shakers were from close by.

Also in the Burned Over District was the great Oneida commune which produced not one but two successful assassins of US Presidents. The Oneida commune led by John Noyes a Yale educated Presbyterian minister was based on the idea that it was fundamentally unjust that a woman should be subject to the rule of one man. Accordingly the commune was comprised of 175 men and 175 women so that the members could have sex with 175 different people twice per year. With this eccentric concept the commune survived into the 20 th century.

I must add that Whitney Cross in the Burned Over District neglected to mention the sexual activity of the commune concentrating instead on the brilliant writings of John Noyes who held that Christ had returned to Earth in AD 70 hence it was the duty of his followers to create heaven on earth. I understand that Whitney Cross wished to avoid the vulgar obsession with sex that exists in our contemporary society. However, in this case his desire to write tastefully does conceal vital information from reader.

There is a well in America from which enthusiasm for God gushes forth. It is in the Burned Over District but Cross fails to explain how we should tap into this spiritual geyser in order to take humanity to the next level.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a little 411 about the so-called "great awakening" that happened in America in the late 18th century, but I hadn't heard about the phenonmenon of the 'burned over district" until I read Fawn Brodie's famous biography of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. Smith was raised in Palmyra, one of the towns in the burned over district.

Geographically, the burned over district was most of north western new york state, stretching east and further north. It was an area colonized by Yankees from Conneticut, Vermont, etc. Many of the burned over types continued migrating into Ohio. It was, in fact, Yankees from the burned over district who founded Oberlin, etc.

In this book the phrase "burned over" means areas that were subject to repetitive church revivals run by itninerant preachers who were supported by various denomintions- methodists, baptists- all protestants.

Basically, people would get together at these big, multi day revival meetings, have an emotional experience and "convert". Bear in mind that almost all of those effected went to church BEFORE their revival experience.

This religious enthusiasm manifested itself in various ways. The citizens of the burned over district created a couple of notable american religions: mormonism and seventh day adventism. They were key supporters of the temperance movement and the anti slavery movement. Around the 1840s a group called the Millerites, very grounded in the burned over practice, made a lot of fans with their prediction that the world would end, first in october 1843 and then in october 1844. After that didn't go down, the burned over district basically reverted to normality. Some enthusiasts got super liberal (like Oberlin is today), some got into wife swapping and radical socialism, some became seventh day adventists (who believe, strangely enough that the world DID END in 1844! True fact!). and some just became regular baptists or methodists or whatever.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dated but thorough overview of the waves of religious enthusiasm that swept through NW New York during the 1830s. Some parts of Cross' survey are better than others--a more thorough discussion of Millerite, Mormon, and Oneida/Noyes theology would have been nice--but it's a useful read for a specialist in American intellectual history. The discussions of how Anti-masonry operated in the "burned-over district" and why said district was ripe for "burning over" (which is explained with resort to a bevy of statistics in the social science style) are excellent.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Area of upstate New York during the 19th Century and factors influencing the mishmash of new religious (American) movements (NRMs) post Great Awakenings. This should be a required course. Needs updating and refining. Other factors were temperance movement, post-Civil War (somewhat antislavery driven), a Westward movement in settling Native lands, financial motivations for fraudulent claims of those starting NRMs. Occult practices. New communities formed by certain practices, such as the FLDS.

Any later recommended reading suggestions on this subject matter appreciated. Old and dry. Needs fleshing out. Some testimonies or even videos would be great!

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good intorduction to alot of the forces in the area.

Of special note to me was the discussion on Spiritualism. In my mind I had the idea the Fox sisters were from 1803, in the beginning of the Burned Over District's rise. They came in much later about 1847 or so and were the tail end of alot going on there.

Just know this book was written in 1950 so it is a bit older but that doesnt detract from the work.

What was especially enlightening to me was the conclusion that the area placed moral failings on the individual and that society could not have any part in that failing. This is one reason the enthuiasms of the area burned themselves out, times moved on and many didnt.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Classic Lives Up To Its Billing

This work is considered foundational, required reading for those of us in American Religious Studies in general and Mormon Studies in particular.

For the latter, which is my case, I would suggest that understanding Mormonism is simply impossible without an understanding of the greater historical context that it germinated in.

This was a long read (and at points a dry one) but a rich and enlightening one.

Highly recommended.

[Ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must read for anyone dong research or just interested in the religious history of early 19th century of western New York.

[Dave Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging history, the places, the movements, the amazing characters.

[Peter Lineham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinarily useful book, the concepts of which can be applied in some parts of New Zealand.

[Nelson Banuchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, we cannot understood the religious attitude of the today's Christian mind and the political culture without referring back to the "burned-over district," even after 170 years! 1800 to 1850 seems to be a time of Christian revival and extremism, religious enthusiasm, rise in political engagement against the culture, and the birth of various "christian" cults, some that still exist or have influence today, including fanaticism with respect to the Millennium. Reading this book, I could not help but realize that revival is even more complicated, vulnerable, and susceptible to the surrounding cultural and political environment than I could have ever guessed. Anyone who has any real interest in American revivals needs to read this.

By the way, Cross discusses revivals under Finney in a somewhat extensive manner (which is why I bought the book but, reading it, got more than I bargained for).

[Nancy White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1950, this can be quite a slog. However, it is vital to anyone interested in the evolution of American Christianity, including revivalism, end of the world millenialism, or the offshoot sects of the Oneidas, Mormons, Spiritualists, Seventh Day Adventists, the Swedenborgs and others.

Largely neglected in this account are the socio-political contributions of the District to the American trajectory. Abolition, free love, and women's rights were a large part of the area along with the religious fire that it is known for. The Finger Lakes not only is where the Seneca Falls Convention took place but also where Harriet Tubman settled in part with the support of abolitionists she knew there. Lily Dale, the Spiritualist community, still active near Chautauqua Lake hosted Susan B. Anthony lectures more times than anywhere else.

The Burned-over district is a major contributor to American history the study of which is sadly neglected now.

[Sadie Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not written for the hobby historian (which I am.) It was written in the 1950s for an academic audience. Parts of this book were boring and dry. I did learn a lot from this book. Even though parts of it were long and painful I felt compelled to finish it. The history of the burned district is my history and the things that happened there directly impact my life to this day. This book wasn’t meant to be a pop history fun read, I’ll give it 4 stars because it accomplished was in set out the accomplish. Which was to give me a very detailed account of a very specific point in history. I took away a star because it takes an especially boring author to make things like “complex marriages” sound so mundane and boring. Thankfully the internet is around now to fill in the planks left out by the 1950s author 😅

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published in 1950. But it is still one of the best histories on this subject. To really cover this corner of history well would take nine volumes. But Whitney Cross managed to cover the ground, leaving out none of the major actors in one concise book and keep it under 400 pages

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book of Western New York social history.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1950, this book may seem a bit dated, but it has stood the test of time. No student of revivalism may afford to ignore it.