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Reading Guide |
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Online Exhibition: Religion and the Founding of the American Republic, Sections VI and VII
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Matteson, The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774, 1848 |
This exhibition from the Library of Congress provides a made-to-order introduction to this section. As you read the brief content overviews and view the graphics, documents, and artifacts, your appetite will be whetted for exploring this aspect of the newly free nation. Section VI, "Religion and the Federal Government," reviews the church-state relationship from the perspective of several "Founding Fathers"—Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, and Franklin. Section VII, "Religion and the New Republic," presents the religious orientations of the populace, especially in evangelical churches, the African American church, and the proliferation of new sects. This pairing reflects the organization in this Toolbox section, as you progress from reading the letters of rationalist Thomas Jefferson to the memoirs of an evangelical "backwoods preacher." Ideal for student use. Not designed for printing.
Discussion questions
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How did the first four presidents define the role of religion in a republic? |
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To what extent did they wish the government to foster non-sectarian religion? |
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In what way was evangelicalism "a kind of national religion"? Did evangelical leaders favor a government-supported church? |
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How did evangelicalism influence the rise of an independent African American church? |
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How did evangelical leaders respond to westward expansion?
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Topic Framing Questions
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How was religious freedom defined in the new republic? |
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How did rationalists and evangelicals differ on the place of religion in a republic? How did they agree? |
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How did diverse religious communities contribute to a shared national identity? |
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How could church-state separation co-exist with the conviction that religion is critical to a nation's strength?
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