Was America founded as a Christian nation? A case study for the survey

Was America founded as a Christian nation?

It’s a staple question for our the survey, and one that my students seem energized to discuss. I have never been able to squeeze John Fea’s excellent book into my syllabi, and until I find a way to do so, I have given up on covering all of the nuances of the question. Instead, I zero in on disestablishment in Virginia as a useful case study.

I have assembled five documents that summarize the debate in Virginia. Having the students read through these documents offers a valuable primary source activity, and it even forces them to wrestle with eighteenth century handwriting.  (As an early Americanist who has seen his eyeglass prescription grow as a result of time in archives, I revel in exposing my students to the pleasures and pain of paleography)

I’ve included the assignment here with links to the documents.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Disestablishment in Virginia
Case Study

We have seen Virginia the immense influence of Virginia in the founding of the new nation.  This influence extended to questions regarding the relationship between church and state and serves as an important case study in exploring whether the United States was founded as a Christian nation. 

Under British rule, nearly every state had an established church that was supported through taxes.  As we know, the first amendment of the Constitution prohibits this in the United States.  The first amendment and the prohibition of a national religious establishment came after and were largely informed by the process of disestablishment in Virginia.  After the Revolution, the Church of England was extremely weak.  Converts had already been flocking to upstart evangelical groups like the Baptists and Methodists, and the war with England strained allegiance in the Anglican Church even among the majority of Virginians who were uncomfortable with the emotional religion of the evangelicals.  In this context, the Church of England in Virginia appeared doomed to lose her establishment, but the people of Virginia struggled to decide whether the government should support religion at all. 

Patrick Henry was the first to propose a solution to the problem, suggesting that the government continue the support of churches.  But instead of offering money exclusively to the Anglican Church, Henry suggested that the money be distributed equally among all of the religious groups in the state.  These five documents relate to the consideration of this bill.  Read this documents in the following order and consider the following questions.  By the end of your reading you should be able to explain the arguments for and against the public support of religion in Virginia.

1. Journal of the House of Delegates – A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion”

What does this bill propose?

2. Letter, George Washington to George Mason. October, 3 1785.

What are Washington’s beliefs regarding the role of government in supporting religion?

3. Baptist petition. Page one.  Page two.

What are the three key arguments advanced by the Baptists against the bill?

4. James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments.

Why is Madison against the bill?

5. Thomas Jefferson, The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom

How is Jefferson’s statute compare with the Baptist petition and Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance? 

3 thoughts on “Was America founded as a Christian nation? A case study for the survey

  1. Thanks Ed. What I would give for an African American voice weighing in on disestablishment in Virginia! If anyone knows one, please pass it along!

    Stay tuned for a future post where I highlight the outstanding “African Americans and the End of Slavery in Massachusetts” digital exhibit hosted by the Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/endofslavery/index.cfm?queryID=55

    They have a digital manuscript copy of that petition, along with several earlier petitions. (See also the amazing portrait of Samuel Sewall doing his best 18th century Jabba the Hut impression)

  2. This looks great! The 1947 Everson decision relies heavily on a discussion/interpretation of the assessment controversy, and it could be an interesting way of showing students one of the modern legacies of 18th-century disestablishment (it brings the Jeffersonian “wall of separation” into first-amendment jurisprudence).

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