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Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus Discovers the New World
In 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing for the Spanish crown, landed on American soil. Being Catholic, Columbus and his crew were the first to introduce an established religion to America. -
Jan 1, 1513
Catholicism Arrives in America
Brought over by Spanish explorers, Catholicism was now a part of America. This was the first successful attempt to integrate the old world into the new world. -
Jamestown Established
Established in 1607, Jamestown, VA, was the first permanent American settlement. It was also the first settlement to have an orgaanized religion: Catholicism. -
Plymouth Established
Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts was established by sepratists of the Church of England. Pilgrims were protestant settlers. -
The First Great Awakening
The first Great Awakening was during the 1730s to the 1770s. It was a revitalization of religious peity that swept throughout the American colonies. -
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
This statute was against the Establishment Clause. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and was intriduced to the Virginia General Assembly in 1779. It did not pass until 1786. -
Establishment Clause
The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any laws "respecting an establishment of religion". -
The Second Great Awakening
The second Great Awakening began in 1790, and gained strength through the early 19th century. It was a religious revival movement in the United States. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of arrests and hangings of the people of Salem who were suspected witches. Salem, Massachusetts was a strongly Christian society, and witchcraft went against what they believed in. -
Jewish Immigration
The first evidence of Judasm in America was during the major immigration of Eastern Ashkenazi Jews between 1808 and 1914. -
Advent Movement
The Advent Movement was started by William Miller. Today, the largest church found in the movement is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. -
McCollum v. Board of Education Dist. 71
The Champaign Council in Religious Education offered voluntary religious instruction during public school hours to students. The use of the tax-supported property for religious instructions violates the Establishment Clause. -
Torcaso v. Watkins
A Maryland law requires that candidates for public offices swear that they believe in God. This was ruled unconstitutional because it violated the Establishment Clause as well and the first and fourteenth ammendments of the Constitution. -
Abington School District v. Schempp
A Pennsylvania law requiring each public school day begin with a Bible reading. This was struck down because it violated the Establishment Clause. -
Title VII
Title VII is a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It protects Americans against employment discrimination based on sex, race, as well as nationality and religion. -
Thorton v. Calder
First Ammenment right are a concern during this case dealing with privatecompanies firing people who refuse to work on days that are considered Sabbath Days by their religion. This is ruled constitutional because the First Ammendment applies only to the government and not private employers. -
Kiryas Joel School District v. Grumet
A New York law created a special school district to help disabled Orthodox Jewish children. It was struck down because it benefitted a single religious group and was not neutral religion. -
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board v. Pinnette
A cross was placed by a private group in a traditional public forum adjoining the state house. This did not violate the Establishment Clause since it was put on a space that was open to equal terms. -
Good New Club v. Milford Central School
A court ruled that religious groups, like other school clubs and organizations, coud meet after school on campus. This ruling did not violate the Establishment Clause. -
Locke v. Davey
Some states were refusing to award scholarships to college students pursuing divinity degrees in preperation for religious instruction. This was ruled constitutional by the court because it did not violate the Establishent Clause. -
Christian Legal Society v. Martinez
A religious group at a public university was denying members based on their sexual orientation. The court ruled that the organization could not do this as it was a violation of the Establishment Clause.
