Anglo-Protestants
Anglo-Protestants are descendants of early American settlers associated with the Church of England and various Protestant denominations that emerged during the colonial period. The Church of England was the established church in several of the original colonies, while other groups formed their own congregations in regions like New England and the Chesapeake, often adhering to the religious principles outlined in the Westminster Confession during the English Civil War. Following the American Revolution, the Anglican Church in America evolved into the Episcopal Church, maintaining a hierarchical structure of priests and bishops, which distinguishes it from other Protestant denominations.
Throughout the nineteenth century, further waves of migration brought new Anglo-Protestant communities to the Midwest and the West. Despite their declining percentage in the American population over recent decades, Anglo-Protestants continue to hold significant influence in American political, economic, and social spheres. Notably, nearly all U.S. presidents up to Joe Biden have identified as Anglo-Protestants, reflecting the group's historical prominence. While some individuals with Anglo-Protestant ancestry, such as Barack Obama, may self-identify differently, the cultural and historical impact of Anglo-Protestants remains noteworthy in American society.
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Anglo-Protestants
Anglo-Protestants are descendants of the early American settlers who were either members of the Church of England, which was the established (tax-supported) church in six of the original colonies, or were members of the dissident English Protestant denominations that created churches in New England and the Chesapeake area and generally followed the religious precepts of the Westminster Convention held during the English Civil War. American Anglicans, generally supportive of John Calvin’s belief in the use of simple dress, observance of the Sabbath, and the use of legal means to prompt devout behavior, became Episcopal after the American Revolution, when the Anglican Church in America changed its name to note its maintenance of a structure of priests and bishops, the feature that made the Church of England most distinguishable from other Protestant churches. Throughout the nineteenth century, continued spurts of migration brought additional Anglo-Protestant groups to the midwestern and far western regions of the United States.
Despite their decline as a percentage of the American population throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Anglo-Protestants have retained a disproportionate amount of prominence in American political, economic, and social life, as demonstrated by the fact that all but three of the American presidents through Joe Biden can be described as Anglo-Protestants. While President Barack Obama has British ancestry and thus could be described as Anglo-Protestant, Obama self-identifies as African American.
Bibliography
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