In the Gilded Age, religion helped shape American society’s moral and social conversations. Many members of the middle and upper classes identified as Protestant, particularly within denominations such as Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Congregationalist. These churches were associated with social prestige and were often attended by influential families such as the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Rockefellers. Many industrialists and elites framed their wealth in a religious context, viewing it as evidence of divine favor or moral virtue. They often believed it was their personal responsibility to use their wealth to benefit society through private philanthropy.

At the same time, some religious leaders began addressing the moral challenges created by industrial capitalism. The Social Gospel movement, led by ministers such as Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden, urged Christians to apply their faith to social problems and promote social justice and collective responsibility. Its major concerns included child labor, poverty, poor working conditions, and low wages, which contributed to calls for labor reform and the rise of new labor laws.

Meanwhile, waves of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe introduced new religious diversity—especially Catholicism—to the United States. This increased diversity brought both cultural enrichment and tension within the largely Protestant establishment, which often labeled Catholics as “un-American.” Between 1860 and 1890, immigration and high birth rates caused the Catholic population in the country to triple, making it the largest single religious denomination. Catholic leaders built a vast school system to educate children separately from Protestant influence, as well as an expansive network of parishes and charitable organizations. This network included hospitals that provided treatment to anyone, regardless of religion. In these ways, Catholicism became an influential institution that helped shape the nation’s moral and social development.