Power, Faith, and Fantasy Post #3 - Pages 76-104

          After the United States emerged victorious from the Barbary Wars, hostilities between the two regions ceased and trade flourished. The wars left in their wake a more cohesive and military-capable Union. The newfound stability between the U.S. and the Middle East prompted a wave of American missionaries to crush upon the region. The missionary movement began slowly in 1819, but was greatly spurred on by the Great Awakenings of the 19th century. American protestants felt a kinship with the Jewish faith, which lent a Zionist undercurrent to the movement. Many Christians in the United States felt an obligation to evangelize Jews in an effort to bring peace to the world through shared faith. Despite their zeal, American missionaries were largely unsuccessful at converting the population of the Middle East. But they were the first group other than merchants to normalize travel to that part of the world. Religious travel to Jerusalem greatly increased in 1831 when King Mohammed Ali of Egypt claimed the territory from the Ottoman Empire and relaxed laws restricting religious freedom. American missions to the Middle East in the 19th century reflect the intense religious fervor of the time and set the stage for future U.S.-Middle East interactions. 

Image source: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/news/missionaries.htm