Citizens of Zion

Citizens of Zion, written by Ellen Eslinger, examines the profound impact of the camp meeting movement on early American society. This history book explores how religious gatherings served as a vital tool for social reintegration during the nineteenth century. Focusing on the Great Revival, the text traces the development of Kentucky from its initial settlement in 1775 through the landmark 1801 Cane Ridge Presbyterian meetinghouse gathering. Eslinger illustrates how these intense collective experiences helped settlers navigate the challenges of economic competition, political partisanship, and cultural conflict.

As a significant work of United States history and Christian theology, Citizens of Zion, Volume 1, analyzes the intersection of religious harmony and republican ideals. The narrative details how the camp meeting functioned as a unique mechanism for community attachment in a rapidly transforming world. By studying the Cane Ridge phenomenon, this volume provides a scholarly look at how early revivalism helped shape a new model of American social and religious life.