Literacy- U.S. Studies: Religious Freedom
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, established a colony based on the ideas of religious liberty, equality, and self-government which served as the foundation of America’s constitutional rights to a secular government wherein all citizens may freely practice their religious beliefs; these ideas still impact the government’s inaction concerning citizens’ religious practices. William Penn created key principles of religious toleration, including religious liberty, equality, and self- government, and put these real-world practices into the colony of Pennsylvania. After Penn petitioned to begin his own colony in America and was granted space, he immediately began to put the idea into practice. “Penn advertised the colony, calling on “adventurers” from all nations and faiths to settle there. He promised them that they would be “governed by the laws of your own making and free to practice whatever religion they chose.” (William Penn: Faith, Not Force). After thousands of settlers arrived and years passed, the colony was a major success. Penn’s …show more content…
The First Amendment Penn had worked and fought so hard for was put into place and passed in 1791. “The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.” (Establishment Clause). While mainly protecting religious belief and expression, this First Amendment has also sparked controversy on whether it should be allowed to violate laws, which in some cases proves to be true (Free Exercise Clause). Penn’s profound ideas were constructed into the First Amendment and were successful after many difficulties that he had to pass
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, established a colony based on the ideas of religious liberty, equality, and self-government which served as the foundation of America’s constitutional rights to a secular government wherein all citizens may freely practice their religious beliefs; these ideas still impact the government’s inaction concerning citizens’ religious practices. William Penn created key principles of religious toleration, including religious liberty, equality, and self- government, and put these real-world practices into the colony of Pennsylvania. After Penn petitioned to begin his own colony in America and was granted space, he immediately began to put the idea into practice. “Penn advertised the colony, calling on “adventurers” from all nations and faiths to settle there. He promised them that they would be “governed by the laws of your own making and free to practice whatever religion they chose.” (William Penn: Faith, Not Force). After thousands of settlers arrived and years passed, the colony was a major success. Penn’s …show more content…
The First Amendment Penn had worked and fought so hard for was put into place and passed in 1791. “The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.” (Establishment Clause). While mainly protecting religious belief and expression, this First Amendment has also sparked controversy on whether it should be allowed to violate laws, which in some cases proves to be true (Free Exercise Clause). Penn’s profound ideas were constructed into the First Amendment and were successful after many difficulties that he had to pass