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Revolutionary War Religion

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Joseph Gordon Hardin United States History to 1876 October 10, 2015 Religion in American Government After the Revolution The point of the Revolutionary War was to bring about a change to the way America handled itself; exercising its budding rights as a country to make its own ways and laws. Religion in the Revolutionary War was used in such a way to comfort the colonists, make them feel as if war was okay since it was for such an important yet basic right. Priest and church officials alike played a new role, one of encouragement and power to urge the soldiers and the townspeople that the war was approved by God, that it was a necessary evil. Most of the Christians agreed with Jonathan Mayhew, a Boston pastor, that it was their duty to refuse …show more content…

This newfound freedom in the Protestant sector of Religion inspired the Methodists to create a legacy and reform their ways to keep up with the newly evolved America. Presbyterians eventually got involved in the evolution of the churches as well, making sure their blatant dis-agreeance to slavery was well understood. As a result of the war, Thomas Jefferson made a pass at enforcing a bill to eradicate England’s monopoly on American Religion. The bill was originally written in 1779, but was turned down due to its wild and uncommon nature. The bill was to allow townspeople to choose which church and church like entity their money would support instead of all the money from taxes going to England and English churches that the Americans no longer wished to be part of. James Madison spoke out declaring his opinion that church and law should never become one. Later, in 1786, Madison revisited the law written by Jefferson and passed it on to the American Government. The subject of Religion was very explosive, causing arguments and turmoil whenever it was brought up during the Revolutionary War, however it was still present in the American militia because George Washington realized his troops’ need for guidance and reassurance. As more and more people moved to America after the Revolutionary War, the need for religions for all denominations and beliefs increased as well. Because not all countries have the same beliefs and choice of God, the American Government saw fit to change as well, owing to the creation of the Liberal political group. While Puritanism was still widely followed, many Liberal Americans chose to pursue another religion called Deism made after European Enlightenment. Other Americans decided that with a new America they deserved a new ideaology and abandoned the thought of associating with just one church and changed

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Gordon S. Wood, “the preeminent historian of the Revolution”, is a well known American historian who has received several awards such as the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prize for his historical books. In his book, The American Revolution: A History, he breaks down the key events based on his experiences and knowledge on the Revolutionary period. Wood was born in Concord, Massachusetts on November 27,1933. Wood teaches at many liberal renowned universities such as Brown, Cambridge, Northwestern , and Harvard. Now being eighty one years old, he recently retired from Brown University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

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The Constitution—the foundation of the American government—has been quintessential for the lives of the American people for over 200 years. Without this document America today would not have basic human rights, such as those stated in the Bill of Rights, which includes freedom of speech and religion. To some, the Constitution was an embodiment of the American Revolution, yet others believe that it was a betrayal of the Revolution. I personally believe that the Constitution did betray the Revolution because it did not live up to the ideals of the Revolution, and the views of the Anti-Federalists most closely embodied the “Spirit of ‘76.” During the midst of the American Revolution, authors and politicians of important documents, pamphlets, and slogans spread the basis for Revolutionary ideals and defined what is known as the “Spirit of ‘76”.

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Thomas Jefferson desired a democracy where governmental decisions would not be affected by religious beliefs and biased views of the situation. Thomas Jefferson viewed separation of church and state here is some of his insight on the topic, “...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties” (Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists). Jefferson became the sole author for the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which became the the most important religious separationist papers of the 1700’s. Jefferson’s ideas and writings for separation of church and state helped to form the American Enlightenment period, and to further his ideals based upon his

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Even with the intentions of coming with religious parliament the pilgrims and puritans did not succeed so even long ago religious followers could not frame this country to be Christian or religious. Inferring that our key founders and the English colonist that help set the framework for this country are not conservative Christians. Our founders would have never supported the fact that our nation would officially be Christian because of their strong opposition with the combining of church and state. The English colonist settles this with the mayflower compact and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison settled this agreements when looking back on how Europe did not give their people freedom and were aware of the religious wars among other religions and the danger it would be to adopt just one religion. That is absolutely true!

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They understood God governs in human affairs. The term separation of church and state is not mentioned in any organic document. The first place it is recorded is in President Thomas Jefferson’s private letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut. The Baptist feared that their church would soon be dissolved. President Jefferson, understanding the intent and letter of the Constitution, assured the Baptist there is a “wall of separation between church and state” which the government may not cross and cease control of the church.

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