Written by a leading authority on Baptist life and thought, this inclusive survey traces the development of the Baptist tradition in North America over the past 400 years. It shows how from a handful of churches on the Atlantic Coast, the Baptist movement spread to become the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. It considers the contribution of all Baptists, including those in the United States and Canada, men and women, Caucasians and non-Caucasians. It includes statistical data, a timeline, lists of Baptist groups and related institutions, and a glossary of terms.