Under God, indivisible: The role of religion in American secession movements

Throughout the history of America there have emerged secession movements initiated to achieve greater self-determination over its members' political, economic, social, and religious affairs. Creative interpretations of the United States Constitution typically drive secessionists' aspirations. Religion emerges as a secondary element in support for, and to some extent opposition to, these secession movements. The Pledge of Allegiance maintains that the American nation is both "under God" and "indivisible"; this thesis reconsiders this in light of secessionists' attempts to re-make America in their own image.