This book examines Dwight L. Moody's and Ira D. Sankey's revival in Chicago in 1876. Robertson shows that Chicago in the 1870s was beset by serious economic, political, and social turmoil, reflecting deep-seated ethnic and cultural antipathies. The author uses a statistical analysis of new church members, a content analysis of sermons, and a careful examination of the social and historical data about Chicago to create a fresh interpretation of the social impact and significance of an urban revival.