Religion and American Politics

by: Rick Brainard

Date: 03/10/04

Despite the fact that there is no State religion in the United States, religion has always played an important role in American Politics, from colonial times to the present.

For instance, in Colonial Massachusetts, the Puritan elders held important posts in the government. During the American Revolution, the clergy served as members of Congress, as well as in the state legislatures and party conventions. Some even took up arms against the British.

Religion also offered a moral sanction to the cause of liberty by assuring the American public that the Revolution was justified in the eyes of God. A central idea in both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution -- separation of church and state -- resulted from the powerful influence of religion in citizens' lives.

The fundamental belief in separation of church and state had its beginnings in the 1720s, the beginning of The Great Awakening. This movement democratized and decentralized authority structures. Especially in the State supported churches like the Anglican Church.

The Great Awakening

The Great Awakening began in the 1720s with the preaching of George Whitefield, Connecticut's Jonathon Edwards and John Wesley. Their sermons focused on eternal damnation for nonbelievers. The Sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God," by Jonathon Edwards is one of the most famous of the time.

They also relied upon the emotions evoked from these sermons to convert the masses. The revivals began in Europe and spread to the colonies.

The Great Awakening Achieved several results that helped to fundamentally change society and political thought in America.

1. Permanent divisions occurred in some Christian denominations as some members supported the revival while others condemned its emotionalism.
2. The parish system weakened because many people gave their loyalty to wandering preachers instead of their home congregations.
3. Mission work increased among the Native Americans and stimulated the founding of institutes of higher learning. A direct result of the revival was the foundation of colleges like Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown and Rutgers.
4. The last major impact was the impulse toward democratization and the downgrading of authority structures. This fed the rebellion that grew into the American Revolution.

Net Resources

1. First Prayer in Congress
   This is the first prayer given in the Continental Congress by Jacob Duche.
2. Sermon on Civil Liberty
   This sermon by Rev. Nathaniel Niles shows how the clergy helped to engender the Revolutionary spirit.
3. Defensive War in a just Cause Sinless
   This sermon by David Jones justifies the Rebellion.