Thomas Jefferson wrote in January first of 1802 a message to the Danbury Baptist association stating, “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State” (Jefferson 1802). The “wall of separation between church and state” has been implied in the 1st amendment, though that is not what Thomas Jefferson was addressing. This paper will address if the United States has a separation of church and state and if there has been an exaggeration over it in the years.
Religious Prosecution
The American people had been over English rule for centuries, where the New England Church and Catholic Church had a heavy influence over the government. England had gotten into countless wars in name of the church such as the Crusades. Non-Catholic groups were prosecuted for their beliefs and could suffer painful consequences if they did not abide by the Catholic values. Many Englanders left their homeland and …show more content…
One case is Engle vs Vitale in 1962. It started with a non- secular prayer to begin the student day in a school situated in the city of New York. Vitale argued that this violated the first amendment because it was forcing religion into the student day where there should be a clear line. The court ruled in his favor and stated that it was a violation of the first amendment. Another would be Lee vs Weisman in 199s where the court ruled “Unconstitutional for a school district to provide any clergy to perform nondenominational prayer at elementary or secondary school graduation” (U.S Supreme Court Decision). Many schools can no longer have Christmas programs, and coaches can’t lead team prayer before a game without their job being at
Religious Prosecution
The American people had been over English rule for centuries, where the New England Church and Catholic Church had a heavy influence over the government. England had gotten into countless wars in name of the church such as the Crusades. Non-Catholic groups were prosecuted for their beliefs and could suffer painful consequences if they did not abide by the Catholic values. Many Englanders left their homeland and …show more content…
One case is Engle vs Vitale in 1962. It started with a non- secular prayer to begin the student day in a school situated in the city of New York. Vitale argued that this violated the first amendment because it was forcing religion into the student day where there should be a clear line. The court ruled in his favor and stated that it was a violation of the first amendment. Another would be Lee vs Weisman in 199s where the court ruled “Unconstitutional for a school district to provide any clergy to perform nondenominational prayer at elementary or secondary school graduation” (U.S Supreme Court Decision). Many schools can no longer have Christmas programs, and coaches can’t lead team prayer before a game without their job being at