The Democratization of American Christianity, by Nathan Hatch, is written on "the cultural and religious history of the early American republic and the enduring structures of American Christianity" (3). Hatch writes to make two arguments: 1) the theme of democratization is central to understanding the development of American Christianity, and 2) the years of the early republic are the most crucial in revealing the process that took place and is still underway . The story of the democratization of American Christianity begins with America's population boom from the Revolution to 1845. Hatch writes that during this boom, "American Christianity became a mass enterprise" (4). This mass enterprise was surveyed through five traditions in the early 19th century: the Christian movement, the Methodists, the Baptists, the black churches, and the Mormons. Hatch explains that these great American movements were led by young men who shared "a hard work ethic, a passion for expansion, a hostility to orthodox beliefs and style, a zeal for religious reconstruction, and a systematic plan for realizing their ideals” (4). These leaders changed the scope of American Christianity by moving toward democratic or populist ideals. Their movements offered both individual potential and collective aspiration, ideas ready to be seized by a young and burgeoning population. These early leaders had a vision of a faith that ignored social status and taught everyone to think, interpret, and organize their faith for themselves. It was a faith of “religious populism, reflecting the passions of ordinary people and the charisma of the builders of democratic movements” (5). New brands of distinctly American Christianity began to develop early in the country's history. Before the revolution, George Whitefield paved the way for American religious movements. The most important factor that helped launch these movements was the American Revolution. The country was ripe for discussion and action toward a new understanding of freedom. The revolution “expanded the circle of people who considered themselves capable of thinking for themselves about questions of equality, sovereignty, and representation” (6). The country was beginning to understand that strength lies in ordinary people and their ability to make their own personal decisions on matters of leadership and authority. There was a common belief that class structure was the main problem in society. The revolution created an open environment that promoted the equality of the individual, allowing political and religious beliefs to flourish and develop without being controlled by authoritarian leaders..