Religion’s Influence on America

Colonists came to America for many reasons in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Some of these motivations were wealth, land, and religion. Religion was the dominant factor in migrating, because many people were fleeing from religious persecution. They were not allowed to believe what they wanted to in their home countries. They were often forced to accept another religion. If they did not accept this religion they were banished, dismembered, or even put to death. They were seeking religious freedom and they saw this new land as their sanctuary. They "came as religious pilgrims and dissenters, seeking an

had made it penal in parents to refuse to have their children baptized; had prohibited the unlawful assembling of Quakers; had made it penal for any master of a vessel to bring a Quaker into the state; had ordered those already here, and such as should come thereafter, to be imprisoned till they should abjure the country; provided a milder punishment for their first and second return, but death for their third; had inhibited all persons from suffering their meetings in or near their houses, entertaining them individually, or disposing of books which supported their tenets. (Jefferson 157)

The first Continental Congress was overflowing with religious men. In fact, “At its initial meeting, in September 1774, Congress made it a first order of business to find a Gospel minister to open its sessions with prayer.” (Hutson and Pelikan 51) The first act that the Congress passed was to have two days a year for “Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer.” (Hutson and Pelikan 51) Congress knew that the future of America was dependant on whether its people could alter its religious beliefs. They needed the people to not embrace, but accept one another’s religion. While at the First Continental Congress, Jefferson, Franklin, and Adams were trying to come up with the official seal of the United States. Jefferson recommended the "Children of Israel in the Wilderness, led by a Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night, and on the other Side Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon Chiefs from whom We claim the Honour of being descended." (Hutson and Pelikan 50) Congress was worried about the militaries moral and put in the Articles of War that the soldiers had to attend church and if they did not they would meet punishment. They were particularly worried about the Navy, because of its long voyages at sea and its possible overseas involvement. Back on the mainland Congress was also implementing religion into various acts concerning education. In Article 3 of the Northwest Ordinance it states, “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” (Angle 92)

These examples illustrate what Thomas Jefferson was trying to convey to those whom would listen; that these early colonies were as intolerant as their homelands. Pennsylvania was the first colony to truly support religious freedom in their laws. In The Frame of the Government of the Province of Pennsilvania in America William Penn writes, "One Almighty and eternal God . . . shall in no ways be molested or prejudiced for their Religious Persuasion or Practice in matters of Faith and Worship, nor shall they be compelled at any time to frequent or maintain any Religious Worship, Place or Ministry whatever." (Soderlund 132) This was used as an example when forming other colonies, on how a government and its people could live without an

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