Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a slave (New York: Penguin Books, 2012). (461)
Meacham, Jon. “God and the Founders.”
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| Meacham, Jon. “God and the Founders.” American Gospel (2006): 1-2. (2)
“God and the Founders” by Jon Meacham details a highly controversial and, still, crucial part of American History – the constant examination of the relationship between religion, history and government development. A passage from his text, American Gospel, Meacham highlights the seemingly age-old separation of church and state, a particularly popular back-pocket argument used. Early thoughts regarding religion and state were interesting, as “the founders understood that theocracy was tyranny, but they did not feel that they could – or should – try to banish religion from life altogether”, a similar sentiment to that which is stated in the Constitution of the United States.21 As mentioned above, one of the most continuously controversial amendments in the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. Despite being a major player in the creation of the United States of America this Amendment continues to hold a stake in American government and, as Meacham explains, “may help us move forward” as tough Americans believe Christianity to be the singular America religion it “is only a thread in the American tapestry – it is not he whole tapestry”.22 The effects of this misunderstanding of the American tapestry, mixed with the misinterpretation of the First Amendment, highlights an issue that those in the United States find it hard to comprehend, that, as Thomas Jefferson explained the Amendment was “meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination”.23 Directory: 2015 2015 -> Executive Summary 2015 -> Final review Sheet: Global History I and II topic: Historical concepts/Prehistory 2015 -> Lesson plan template 2015 -> The heart and mind of a steward leader 2015 -> Adolf hitler 2015 -> Running head: integrating african american vernacular english 2015 -> Artificial Intelligence 2015 -> 8 shocking predictions for life after 2020 from Google's genius futurist 2015 -> Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr's Duel 2015 -> Communications 2 from the fantail 3 shipmate forum 4 Download 314.5 Kb. Share with your friends:
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