Religion in America
Essential Questions
Why is Thomas Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom important?
What is the separation of church and state and what were the Founding Fathers opinions on it?
Religious Freedom
When the pilgrims left England and came to America they wanted to form a colony to practice their religion freely. Their religion was not accepted by their king. More than 200 years after that, when the Founding Fathers were outlining their governments they had to ask themselves whether their new government would have an official religion to unite them or a land where all religions could be practiced freely.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the “Statute for Religious Freedom” for Virginia’s constitution in 1779. James Madison (a follow Virginian) finally convinced the legislature to adopt it in 1786. It remains in that state’s constitution today. Jefferson and Madison helped ensure that the right to religious freedom can be protected in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution as well.
Church and State
When making the new U.S. Government the founding fathers debated over whether the government be neutral toward religion or create an official religion supported by the U.S. government.
Thomas Jefferson
“Believing with you that . . . the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate . . . that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion. . . thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”
—Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802
James Madison
Opinion:
Supported religious liberty
Position on Church and State: Completely separate
Rufus King
Opinion:
Supported state aid to religion
Position on Church and State: Separate, but related
Edmund Randolph
Opinion:
Claimed government should have no power over religion
Position on Church and State: Completely separate
Charles Pinckney
Opinion:
Opposed religious tests for office
Position on Church and State: Completely separate
George Mason
Opinion:
Spoke against the establishment of a state religion
Position on Church and State: Completely separate
Noah Webster
Opinion:
Also opposed the establishment of a state religion
Position on Church and State: Completely separate
Eventually, the Founding Fathers decided to separate church and state and made the separation between church and state official under the the First Amendment. The First Amendment not only allows citizens the freedom to practice any religion of their choice, but also prevents the government from officially recognizing or favoring any religion.
Modern day
“This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are.”
-Barak Obama
Discussion Questions
What does Jefferson mean when he says that “the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions”?
What does Jefferson mean by “building a wall of separation between church and state?”
What important American document protects a citizen’s right to freedom of religion today?
What was the most common view expressed by the founding fathers about church and state?
In America, under the protections guaranteed in the Constitution, citizens are free to...
A) go to any church they choose, as long as it is a Christian church.
B) practice any religion they want, as long as they believe in God.
C) decide not to go to church, as long as they believe in God.
D) hold any—or no—religious beliefs.
Activity 2: What were the Founding Fathers' positions on the separation of Church and State.
Using the information from this lesson, answer the questions in a thinking map. Complete this assignment digitally or on paper. It will be collected in your portfolio.
Extension Activities
NEWSELA: Freedom of religion in the New World
NEWSELA: Native Americans and freedom of religion
