Midterm Civil War

641: Midterm
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1. Briefly explain the role that faith played in U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East prior to the Civil War
Missionaries played a crucial role in determining the US foreign policy in the Middle East prior to the civil war. In their foreign mission, missionaries exerted a far-reaching influence on the relation between the Middle East and America. With the growing alliance between the church leaders and decision makers, missionary movement became popular, transforming American relation with the Middle East. Through faith, Muslims trusted missionaries permitting them to settle in the Muslim dominated area of Smyrna, spreading America power through their deeds (Oren, 2007, 127).
Faith became the driving force America used to pioneer introducing American culture in the Middle East; education was introduced turning the Middle East into a reading nation. Through religious beliefs, as part of the missionary tradition, they empathized with the Middle East population by offering medical care reaching out to more than 10,000 people (Oren, 2007, 136). As a result, the US enjoyed friendly relations and support from the Middle East Nations; Missionaries influenced and determined the countries policies overseas .Through the missionary work, there were several attempts to restore liberty and respect to the Jews and aiding Syria and Palestine to remain independent.
Faith influenced the missionary actions as they believed it was their duty to establish moral dignity and save men from suffering. These principles accorded well with the missionary sense of purpose as it reenergized them. As a result, missionary station in Urmia was established by the support of the American government.
Faith was also used to redress inequality in the Middle East; missionaries like Parson used biblical quotes to encourage Christians to strive to restore sovereignty in their ancestral and biblical homes of the Jews. Parson further encouraged peaceful persuasion of the converted Christians to journey back to the Middle East to perform their Christian duties. These included performing consecrated deeds on the walls of Jerusalem, to entice the Jews to return back to their ancestral land in the Middle East (Oren, 2007, 82).
Faith replaced ignorance and degradation. The manifest destiny championed by Parson influenced congress and encouraged skilled professionals to evangelize overseas because of its noble course. The American government concern about the welfare of increasing number of evangelists overseas increased its foreign budget to $250,000 (Oren, 2007, 132). Faith brought about civilization as Muslim, Jews, and Christians shared common platforms especially in education, making the Middle East a civilized region. Through education, missionaries enlightened their countrymen back in America. Missionary correspondence served as a primary source of enlightenment. They published articles and reports and their experiences in the Middle East. Progressive education was witnessed in Syria and other Ottoman lands owing to faith (Oren, 2007, 136).
Foreign policy and evangelical zeal by the American missionaries resulted in peaceful coexistence. Using religion, America was determined to uplift the living standar...