Intolerance toward Nineteenth-Century Religious Groups

Intolerance of a wide range of religious groups in the nineteenth century often was marked by violence. Targets included Shakers, African American religious communities, Methodists, Millerites/Adventists, and the Church of Christ, Scientist. Such groups typically were outside of a middle-class, historically well-established white Protestant denominational family in America. Mob violence against such groups occurred repeatedly. State constitutions prohibited non-believers from holding public office.