The best way is if Puritanism survives in New England instead of degenerating into Unitarianism.
What POD could create this? Extra Points for a post-civil war POD.
It depends on what you mean by "Bible Belt." If you mean socially conservative and religious, then having a heavier and more wide-spread level of Catholic immigration in the North should achieve the first part.
The best way is if Puritanism survives in New England instead of degenerating into Unitarianism.
Catholics would have been against that. It's the New England puritans that would make the region more bible thumping.
Over the Venezuela crisis in 1895, the U.S. goes to war with Great Britain. A ludicrously unprepared U.S. gets invaded by the British in the north, leading to widespread destruction of industry. The democrats are humiliated for this defeat, leading to William Jennings Bryan and his populists starting a liberal new southern party. In the north, T.R. has been killed in the British invasion, leading the Republican party to become more isolationist, and over time religious. the Populists manage to get the U.S. to fight on Germany's side in an World War 1 analogue. The move is horribly unpopular, and with the second failed american invasion of Canada, New England turns even more conservative and religious. After the war, a line of puttering Republican presidents make the U.S. even more Christian, until with the great depression the Populists, under President Morgenthau, ensure that they are the great nonreligious party of the south. The north in turn becomes more and more religious.
Why? Ireland shows Catholics can be particular about getting their religious norms enshrined into law.
However, just because the religiosity is toned down doesn't mean they'll be any more liberal on race or other issues than OTL--they could just as easily disdain homosexuality because's unmanly (well, for men at least) or disgusting rather than it being sinful.
Have Charles Finney re-locate in the south for reasons of health. The burned over district moves with him.What POD could create this? Extra Points for a post-civil war POD.
Have Charles Finney re-locate in the south for reasons of health.