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Period: May 14, 1492 to
Religion in America
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus lands in The Americas
Columbus Lands in the Bahamas, Sparking an age of new world exploration and colonialization. He and the other first explorers were from Spain, and so brought Catholocism to the new world. -
Jamestown established
First English settlers land in America and establish Jamestown, bringing their Anglican Christian beliefs with them. -
Puritans founded Plymouth Colony
Most Puritans, who believed that the Anglican church needed reform, desired change. Some radical Puritans, called Pilgrims, wished to establish separate congregations and so traveled to America to establish strictly Puritan settlements and escape religious persecution in England -
Rhode Island Colony Established
Roger Williams was banished from Massachussets bay colony for preaching tolerance, separation of church and state, and a break from the Church of England. Hewent on to establish Rhode Island, which would become a safe haven for religiously persecuted and tolerant groups in early America. -
Quakers emerge in America
Mary Fisher and Ann Austin move to the Massachussets Bay colony and start spreading the word of the Friends. They are persecuted, but Nicholas Upsall converted due to them and began spreading their beliefs. Eventually, a group of Quakers left the colony to move to Rhode Island, where colonies were more tolerant. -
Pennsylvania Established
King Charles II signs the Charter for Pennsylvania, which becomes a safe haven for the religiously persecuted Quakers in America. -
Age of Enlightenment begins
Enlightenment ideals begin and spread, later influencing intellectual American leaders with its ideas and Deism. Thomas Jefferson is one example of a Deist American leader. -
Shearith Israel Congregation gets its first synogogue built
The Shearith Israel Congregation is the oldest Jewish congregation in America, starting in 1687 in New York. This marks the beginning of organized Judaism in America. -
First Great Awakening
An evangelical movement in America that focused on personal need for salvaion through Jesus and changes protestantism in America by increasing personal importance rather than ceremony. -
Second Great Awakening
Another evangelical movement in America that revitalized the Protestant faith, and sparked a surge of social reforms to purge society's evils for the second coming of Jesus. -
Treaty of Tripoli
John Adams signs the Treaty of Tripoli which granted equality to Muslims in America in all government and legal aspects. -
Jefferson emphasizes separation of church and state
In reply to the Danbury Baptist Association's outrage towards the congregationalist fee, Jefferson declared the first amendments intent of a separation of church and state, and that govenrment would not interfere or control a personal right such as religion. -
New Thought Churches Established
In the 1830s a group of churches known as new thought churches were established, whose teachings were greatly influenced by Trancendentalism and Emerson. -
Latter Day Saint Movement
Joseph Smith Jr. starts the Latter Day Saints movement in New York, which creates the Church of the Latter Day Saints, based in Salt Lake City. This marks the rise of mormons in America. -
First Buddhist Temple in America
The Sze Yap company establishes the first Buddhist Temple in San Francisco, and many more were rapidly built in America before the next century. -
First substantial immigration of Muslim people
Followers of Islam begin to immigrate to America, effectively introducing Muslim communities in America. -
Ancient Order of Druids in America founded
The first American order of Druidism is established in America, increasing the great diversity of religions in America. -
The first Sikh Gurdwara in America built
In Stockton California, The firt Sikh Gurdwara is built, marking an improvement in the footing of religious minorities. -
First Mosque in America Established
In Biddeford, Maine, what may be the first Mosque in the United States is established by Albanian Muslims. -
First Hindu Temple in America consecreated
The Hindu Temple Maha Vallabha Ganapathi Devastanam is consecrated in Flushing, New York City. It is the first American Hindu Temple.