The Struggle For Religious Freedom In The United States

Religion has caused many controversial arguments throughout history; regulations, treaties, and laws have all restricted certain religions from their political and natural rights. The government constantly finds ways to justify their actions, convincing colonist that they can freely practice their religion. Once the United States Constitution was written in 1787, laws needed to be enforced to ensure that the founding of America was running efficiently. Colonist grew tired of following the beliefs of the England church, forming their own religions in an act of rebellion. The government attempted to find new ways to make religions equal while still maintaining full power over all the religions, “but a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice...”(Thoreau 1). The government wasn't too fond to find out that colonist now felt the need to rebel against them, although people such
as Henry David Thoreau would think otherwise believing that if laws are “of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law” (Thoreau 2). The government was a rising
The economy would endure drastic downfalls due to religious practices between the Anglican and Congregational church formed in the thirteen colonies.
The economy is also greatly affected by religious beliefs, causing citizens to protest in the fight for their religious freedom. The idea of having religious freedom has been the dream for colonist since early colonization in the New World. Although most colonies such as Massachusetts would not accept the practice of certain religions, Rhode Island was an exception. It was until the Rhode Island Charter of 1663, that colonist settled in Rhode Island in hopes religious freedom and separation of the church and state. The Toleration Act of 1689 would become a sly act from the government that would allow nonconformist to worship freely, if and only if the accepted certain oaths of allegiance that would be controlled by Puritans. Many colonies became fond of this Act spreading religious diversity in colonies, yet Pennsylvania and Maryland would be the only ones to accept Catholics to freely practice their
religion.
The growth of new religious practices would cause social problems between the “uncivilized” and the superior religions. Colonist were obliged to follow the Church's beliefs, and were not allowed to publicly practice another religion without consequences. Meanwhile, societies were being torn apart between the Loyalist and the Patriots, who had a different distinction on the morals and rights that humans should be given in the seventeenth century. Jews and Catholics were no longer seen as people, but preferably known as servants for men in power. Whipping and unreasonable fines would be enforced on those who did not attend church on the Sabbath. It was until early Quakers began to help Christians specifically escape injustice from other states who did not care for their religion. Pennsylvania would be seen as the refuge for Christians once it was founded in 1787 by William Penn. The evolution of religion in the United States has been a mix of hatred and unity that can finally be seen as just. It has shaped our nation to be what it is today and has helped bring us together by accepting the beliefs of others. Now individuals with certain religions have the right to practice what they believe without having the fear of being hanged or kicked out of their state because of what they believe in. Although religion continues to affect the way decisions are politically from church and state we have learned from our past mistakes to not let powerful leaders dominate the decisions of laws enforced on the community.