American Infidelity (1820)

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American Infidelity is a timely, provocative exploration of a forgotten chapter in American history—one that still echoes in our most urgent cultural debates. In the final decades of the 19th century, America stood at a cultural crossroads. Evangelical Protestantism reigned supreme, shaping laws, morals, and public life. But beneath the surface, a bold countercurrent surged—freethinkers, feminists, and sexual radicals who dared to imagine a freer, more equal society. In American Infidelity, historian Steven K. Green tells the riveting story of this ideological showdown. At its center were two powerful forces: a rising movement of skeptics and reformers who challenged religious orthodoxy and social convention, and the reactionary crusaders—led by the infamous Anthony Comstock—who fought to silence them. These "infidels," as Comstock branded them, weren't just questioning God—they were demanding access to birth control, advocating for divorce reform