Educating Young People about the Constitution

Religious Liberty: The American Experiment Lesson 2 The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

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Overview

Lesson 2: The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

Should tax money be used to support churches? Between 1776 and 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, together with religious dissenters such as the Baptists, ushered in a new era of religious liberty. In his famous Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, Madison opposed taxing the people in order to support churches. He also shepherded Jeffersons Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom through the state legislature. The efforts of these men gradually inspired other states to disestablish state churches where they existed.

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition, and that every person may here worship God according to the dictates of his own heart. In the enlightened Age and in this Land of equal liberty it is our boast, that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the Laws, nor deprive him of the right of attaining and holding the highest Offices that are known in the United States.
George Washington, letter to the members of the New Church in Baltimore, 1793.

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

As God is the only worthy object of all religious worship, and nothing can be true religion but a voluntary obedience unto his revealed will, of which each rational soul has an equal right to judge for itself, every person has an unalienable right to act in all religious affairs according to the full persuasion of his own mind, where others are not injured thereby...
Isaac Backus, Baptist minister, A Declaration of the Rights, of the Inhabitants of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in New England (1779)

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty Learning goals
Understand the significance of Virginia, including the efforts of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, to the development of religious liberty in America. Analyze primary source documents about the relationship between church and state. Assess arguments for and against established religion and a public role for religion in civic life. Appreciate the philosophical and political processes of the American experiment in religious liberty.

Read Essay: The Constitution, the First Amendment, and Religious Liberty and answer the comprehension and critical thinking questions

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

Comprehension and Critical Thinking Questions 1.What was the Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion? What arguments were put forth for and against it? 2.George Washington supported religious liberty, but did not oppose the proposed Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion. How did he reconcile these positions? 3.Why could states establish religions and require religious tests even after the ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights?

4.Today, there are over 55 countries with established religions. However, a similar number of countries have moved toward religious freedom over the last 150 years. Why do you think the trend over the last 150 years has been to disestablish religions?

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

Divide the class into two halves. Number all students 1s and 2s. All the ones go to one side of the room; all the twos to the other side. Further sub-divide each half of the class into pairs or trios, depending on class size. Have these small groups analyze the quotations on your assigned handout. All the 1s: Handout A: A Connected Church and State All the 2s: Handout B: A Separated Church and State

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

Share and Discuss: 1) Have one person from each group who worked on Handout A: A Connected Church and State share the best argument from their group. 2) Have one person from each group who worked on Handout B: A Separated Church and State share the best argument from their group. 3) Optional: Create a Socratic Seminar or Class Debate

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

Keeping in your same groups: Read and Discuss with your partner(s) Handout C: A Public Role for Religion in Civic Life? When finished, come together as a class and discuss: What kind of society or government are the speakers seeking to promote? What value do the speakers see in a public role for religion?

The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty

A. Form new pairs based on the numbering at the beginning of class. Each 1 will now be paired (grouped) with a 2. B. B. Have these new pairs complete Handout D: A Conversation in 1785 Students should use the Essay and Handouts A, B, and C, to construct authentic dialogues that Virginians may have had about the relationship between church, religion, and the state. Questions to Guide Student Thinking: Which reasons for and against establishment are most persuasive? Is the question of establishment/non-establishment of religion a black and white one? Does any public role for religion constitute an establishment of religion? If yes, why? If not, where is the line drawn? When Finished: Post the dialogues on the Students can finish walls and have the dialogues for students read them. homework or..
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The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty Homework

A. Create editorial cartoons that illustrate the issues of the 1785 Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion.

B. Find news articles about events that involve the relationship between government and religion.
Articles are available at www.BillofRightsInsitute.org/Headlines

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The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty Extensions

A. Research Torcaso v. Watkins (1961), which resulted in the end of religious tests for public office.

B. Students should research a country with a strong church-government connection. Then students should create a short documentary to illustrate how life in that country is different from life in America. Students can begin their research at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/ReligiousLiberty

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