Christianity Influence

Christianity’s Influence on the United States of America. “National allegiances were determined by the faith of the monarch, and nations might move from on church to the other as a result of dynastic change of conquest.” (Marsden, 99) Before the United States was recognized as a country, the land attracted Europeans. These Europeans arrived in the new world to seek religious freedom away from their perspective countries. Many of these Europeans were Christians, but of different branches of the religion with similar ideals. American was founded on Christianity due in part to the time period where many Christians arrived in what today is the United States. During the 1600s, Christians arrived in the new world and no other religions at the time …show more content…
The new world was looked upon as a place to practice and spread religion without their countries controlling their religious beliefs. Christianity established the United States because they arrived in the new world to seek religious freedom. Christianity was the only religion that arrived in the new world. No other religions arrived in masses compared to Christianity. The first generation of families were very religious. The same could not be said for the second and third generations who were not as religious. The second and third generations could be called horse shedders and half way convents. Horse shedders only went to church for a short amount of time, but then would run off to partake in sexual intercourse or gambling in a shed. A half way convent is a partial member of the church. Basically, only the grandchildren were half members because the grandparents attempted to salvage their grandchildren’s religious dignity. Although it seemed Christianity was slowly dissipating, that soon would change with the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening was led by Jonathan Edwards a preacher who wrote intense speeches which placed fear into his followers. George Winfield, a friend of Edwards, traveled with him to make speeches and his speeches were even more enticing to the crowds that gathered. This led to a revival of Christianity. People did not want to be damned they …show more content…
A major topic discussed was religion. Many of the men were unsure of how religion should play a part in the Article of Confederation and Declaration of Independence. George Washington wanted to encourage all religions not just one to grow and expand; although this did not apply to the Native Americans. The point of the Declaration of Independence was to declare independence; not to maintain religion. Christianity was mentioned four times throughout Declaration of Independence. Moreover Thomas Jefferson and James Madison declared that church and state should be separated because in Virginia Patrick Henry wanted to charge taxes to citizens. Those taxes would fund churches, which is why Jefferson and Madison stepped in to protect the citizens of Virginia. The law stated “that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever…” (Lecture, Schultz) Although Jefferson and Madison stepped in to assist Virginia, twelve other colonies had laws that established a law that was related to Christianity in their state constitutions. Virginia was the first state to be separated by church and state. For example, in New Jersey only Protestants could hold a government office position. Although the Declaration of Independence mentions religion the Articles of Confederation do not mention religion or god anywhere in the