Beginning with the coming of the Pilgrims in 1620 and the Puritans in 1630, the United States was under the influence of the Reformed Faith. The Puritan era extended from John Winthrop (1588-1649) to Cotton Mather (1663-1728). After a period of decline, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) revived its influence briefly. We can summarize everything Jonathan Edwards stood for in a simple phrase: the defense of the Reformed and Puritan faith. George Whitefield can be happily described as the first Reformed Evangelical. Under his influence and the influence of the followers of Edwards the first Great Awakening (1740-42) and the second Great Awakening (1800) were lead by Reformed Pastors and scholars.

In the 19th century, the Baptists and Methodists Churches grew rapidly. They were solidly evangelical but only a small minority was Reformed. However with the establishment of Princeton Seminary in 1811, the Reformed faith continued the intellectual lead within American Christianity. Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, J.G Machen have left us with a wonderful witness for Christ. These men were part of a wider movement known as "Southern Presbyterian". This movement produced the Reformed theologians Dabney and Thornwell. Both Old Princeton and the American Southern Presbyterian Church was strongly committed to missions, and they have left their mark in Taiwan and other Chinese speaking areas.