Founding Fathers: A Document Analysis

Improved Essays
Quoted from the Supreme Court and Thomas Jefferson, “the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect ‘a wall of separation between church and state.’” (Jefferson) For the first hundred years of American history, there were no major discrepancies between the people and the first amendment. However, in order to properly analyze the Constitution, one must traverse through history, and take a look at the views of our Founding Fathers. In the year 1620, Puritans seeking religious freedom in America wrote a document that enstated their intention to establish a Christian theocracy. Through open statements of their dependence on God, and their desire to expand his reign, they established two of the most fundamental ideals

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The framers of the Constitution were visionaries who sought to establish a limited representative government which not only restricted the powers of an existing government, but also safeguarded the rights of the minority through restricting majority rule. A republic, they believed, would be the only form of government in which the liberty of the people could be preserved. Greatly influenced by the 17th century British philosopher John Locke, who advocated for the protection of natural rights of man by entering into a social contract, separation of governmental powers, and individuals’ right to consent to being governed, the founding fathers were able to incorporate such teachings into the Constitution of the United States. The American founders…

    • 1333 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    They intended the First Amendment to be more of a safe guard against the possibility of a Winthrop’s Santorum, which is pretty much the vision of a Christian nation. Winthrop did not believe in natural liberties like our founding fathers did. He believed in a more moral style of liberties, more adherent to the relationship between man and god. Winthrop’s visions went against everything the founding fathers believed in.…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John P. Roche gives his case that proposes that the form of the Constitution was simply a representative development involving a compromise of the interests of the state, economy, and governmental concentrations. In John P. Roche’s argument he states that the government was as democratic as possible: “My concern is with the further position that not only were they revolutionaries, but also they were democrats. Indeed, in my view, there is one fundamental truth about the Founding Fathers…: They were first and foremost superb democratic politicians…”[1]. He continues by stating that what they did was create a practical compromise that would support both the national interest and be something that the people would agree with. They started with the Virginia plan that proposed a bicameral legislative branch.…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Founding Fathers relationship between each other and the American People The founding fathers, if you grew up in America you likely have heard of them. Joseph J. Ellis’s book focuses on a few of the founding fathers lives and struggles. The first chapter, called The Duel, highlights the confrontation between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr which ended in Hamilton dying of a fatal wound. What happened is Burr, who was tired of Hamilton fiddling with his political career based off of their different political views.…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    American Political Culture

    • 1022 Words
    • 4 Pages

    American political culture defines political attitudes, institutions, and activities that are most appreciated in American political life. The American vision has been characterized by several familiar basics. The Bill of Rights went into effect in 1791. Its importance was to protect the freedom and rights of Americans and its effect on American citizens can be seen even today. The Bills Of Rights is the foundation of American Government.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first amendment states the five general freedoms of an American citizen: freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. On occasion we neglect these write that others have, and we forget the rights that we have. First part of the amendment is the right to free worship and speech. These two rights are relevant in our society today for the reason that it gives us the opportunity to stand up for what we believe in, without being persecuted. We as Americans are lucky to worship freely and speak for what we think is right, Others in countries around the world do not have the privileges we have under killed for sticking up for themselves.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Judeo-Christian Theory

    • 1963 Words
    • 8 Pages

    America is an intriguing nation with several unique ethnicities, backgrounds, and religions throughout the fifty states. Regardless of the above statement more than a few people have questioned if America is or is not a Christian Nation. Depending on a person’s individual stance on the matter, they usually correspond to one of two generalistic theories about America. Theory one: America was founded by agnostics, deists, and atheists as a non-religious nation with little to no Christian heritage. These people point to the establishment clause of the Constitution or the Treaty of Tripoli as proof of a Non-Christian America.…

    • 1963 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Texas Unjust Advantages

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The first amendment clearly states that the US government shall not hold higher, or provide an unjust advantage to any religion over another, while the Freedom of Worship clause much more crealy states that the residents of Texas have cannot have their freedom to practice their religion in whole taken from them. The first amendment was made to prevent the government from adopting a certain religion over others, while the freedom of worship amendment was made to protect religious practices and worship. 2. The Texas and US constitutions do not necessarily collide here. The US constitution makes it clear that the government shall not hold higher, nor provide an unjust advantage to any religion over another.…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A part of the First Amendment of the constitution states “[c]ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The Establishment Clause intends to prevent any government endorsement or support of religion (Freedom of Religion and the Establishment Clause). Throughout history and different time periods, many contrasting interpretations of this clause have formed. Many court cases have helped develop the meaning the this Clause. The Establishment Clause’s interpretation remains controversial, although numerous tests have helped the Clause itself.…

    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    It appear that you did not complete or submit your "This I Believe..." Research Presentation Founding Father Selection Form. This was a requirement that relates to your midterm project. Missing assignments can impact you overall final grade. Since you choose not to select a founding father, I will send you a name of a founding father that you must use for your presentation project. It is imperative, as a professional, that you meet all required deadlines.…

    • 109 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The day September 17th, 1787 will forever impact the lives of many Americans, including mine. The Constitution means alot to me, as it does to other American citizens. Section 1 of Article 1 of the Constitution begins with the statement “We the people of the United States” . This solemn statement means a lot to me and has impacted my life greatly because it defines the unity that the writers of the constitution intended for our country to entail.…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In my opinion, I also believe that the political value held in the highest regard by the Framers of the Constitution were an individual’s natural, unalienable rights such as their life, liberty and property like Kimberly had stated in her discussion above. John Locke was well educated and played a key role in the revolution by providing Jefferson with information regarding contract law, which was the fuel Jefferson needed to get the crowds going to start the American Revolution. I do believe this political value was the same amongst common citizens at the time because the British denied them all the above and they wanted a chance to have a new life in their new world. I feel as though the Framers of the Constitution addressed some of the…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first amendment was written in order to prevent religious persecution from happening in America as it was the reason many colonists left England in the first place. It accomplishes this by stating that the government cannot make laws against or regulate religion in any way. Because Christianity and its many denominations were the prominent religion in 1789 when the amendment was ratified, it had really no drawbacks. Today, however, we see certain movements claiming to be religions in an attempt to take advantage of the system. For example, Scientology sought to be recognized as a religion primarily for the purpose of tax exemptions as religious groups are…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The U.S. Constitution was written to govern the country by men, some of whom came to these shores with religious dedication but others were not so. To keep the country from being overtaken by any particular religion or by the rules of law of other countries like England, the Constitution was written to accommodate both interests, freedom to practice religion but also separation of religion and government. Churches, such as the Catholic Church or the Church of England, are powerful governing bodies themselves whose power must be restrained according to our Founding Fathers. They recognized that the Church could significantly interfere with the freedom on which this country was founded. The founders believed in a secular government though…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The separation of church and state was established following World War 2. This was a direct result of the kamikaze pilots and the teachings of the Japanese Shinto government. The state Shinto was the governing religion over Japan in the late 18th century. It was required that in order to end the war against Japan and sign a peace treaty the Japanese government had to abolish the State Shinto. Our founding fathers wrote the 1st amendment to support this understanding and prohibit State religion from further affecting our nation.…

    • 1339 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays