Freedom of Religion - Changes to American Society and Culture from 1700 to 1812
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The First Great Awakening - Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
A response to The Enlightenment, there is no other sermon more associated with this religious evolution than Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. This sermon, preached in Massachusetts, is the prime example of the change of religion in the colonies. Christianity became a religion of personal conviction and confession allowing greater acceptance of previous excluded social groups and increased the growth of other denominations such as Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists. -
The Enlightenment - The American Philosophical Foundation
Deism was the prominent philosophy that developed from the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Those who subscribed to this philosophy adhered to reason and science over faith. Of particular importance is Ben Franklin's establishment of the American Philosophical Society of whose members would include many founders like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. This religious development was in part a response to the Great Awakening and would pave the way for religious freedom in the future. -
Declaration of Independence
While not a document for religious freedom, the Declaration of Independence is the cornerstone document from which religious freedom would become pivotal to the citizens of the United States of America. Without becoming its own country, the people of the colonies may not have ever reached a point of separation of church and state. Instead, the colonies would likely have continued to be required to be a part of the Church of England. -
Articles of Confederation
Religious freedom went unfulfilled in this first form of government under the Articles of Confederation. There was no Bill of Rights or any sort of protections for religious expression. In hindsight, it seems improbably that such a poorly conceived document would exist with the current U.S. Constitution. Despite many of the founders being a member of the American Philosophical Foundation, there still existed a national leaning towards Christianity as the unofficial state religion. -
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Aside from the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, there is no more important document to religious freedom than the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, this statute become the model after which the first amendment would be created. Jefferson, clearly influenced by his involvement in The American Philosophical Foundation advocated for freedom of religion and was able to pass this bill. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights has long been held as the single most important aspects of the U.S. Constitution particularly the first amendment. The free exercise of religion is one of the most valued parts of America. Even though it took fifty years after The Enlightenment, the first amendment granted freedom of religion to the citizens of the United States. The need for such an amendment likely does not occur without the Great Awakening coinciding with The Enlightenment.
