The Civil War had a greater impact on American society in the polity than any other event in the country’s history.
Crusaders participated in the Crusades for a number of reasons beyond just reclaiming the Holy Land for Christianity. Some of those reasons included forgiveness of sins, travel opportunities, the desire of younger nobles to obtain land in the Middle East, establishment of new cultural contacts between the East and West and the establishment of new trade routes and commercial opportunities.
Benjamin Franklin was the one who did this.