Religion and the Founding Fathers ---------------- RELIGION has always been important inAmerica. During tihe colo- deny citizenship and voting rights to Jews, although they were al- nial and Revolutionary eras, religion permeated the lives of Ameri- lowed to practice their religion, but usually not publicly. Not until cans. Blue laws kept the Sabbath holy and consumption lawxs the 19th centurv did states extend full citizenship to Jews. limited the actions of everyone. Christianitv was one of the few Quakers-banished, whipped, fined, imprisoned, and occasion- links that boundAmerican society together from Maine to (ieorgia. ally executited in early New England-found a refuge in William The Bible, in addition to being the divine word of (iod that would Penn's experiment. Discrimination against Quakers, even in Penn- guide people through life's journey to the n fied during and after the Revolution, espe- as a textbook for history, a source book t those who steadfastly practiced pacifism. primer for mothers to teach their childrei ibatants-both British and American-felt read, and a window through which to vit Quakers were not on their side, they mtist understand human nature. With the high c inemies. I)uring the war, Quakers were dis- rate, especially among infants, childbear ranchised, and Americans rounded Utip women, and seafarers. Americans stoically r ealthy Quakers thought to be dangerous signed themselves to the will of God. Bt nd transported them to safe areas away cause religion and morality were seen as from the fighting and their homes. Only necessary components of stable society, slowly after the war were Quaker voting colonial and Revolutionary government rights restored. supported religion. Clergymen wcrc Religion played a significant role in the among the most influential members of coming of the American Revolution. In the community and many) of them actively New York, the demand by some for an participated in government. American Anglican bishopric raised fears of heightened ecclesiastical controls simi- jamnes ladclison. Portraitty Gilbert .Stlart. 182 1. (National Galle X?of A rt) lar to the civil controls being mandated by Parliament. American animosity and fear of Although colonists often emigrated to th atholics increased. especially when Parlia- New World to escape religious persecution nt passed the Quebec Act in 1-774.The Act intolerance, many new Americans readily nded southward the borders of the cap- criminated against others on the basis of rel Catholic French territory to the Ohio River Ironically, the liberal religious traditions en ranteed the free Exercise of the Religion of in the charters and fundamental laws of Rh h of Rome." The Declaration of Indepen- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and the e Quebec Act as one of the charges against very much like the declarations of indulgences promtulgated by the king and Parliamnent. Ironically, because of America's desperate Charles II and James II that were so bitterly denounced bx the need foir support in its struggle for independence, Congress allied Anglican clergy and members of Parliament. Like a magnet. hoxw- itself with (Catholic France, andc His (Christian Majesty Louis XVI was ever, these liberal policies attracted dissenters to these religiousl regularly toasted in America as a true friend of the new republic. benevolent colonies. The American Revolution led to a significant separation between The first 12 American colonies were founded during the l-th church and state. Increasingly, religion was thought to be a matter century. Much of the fear and hatred of Catholics in England dur- of personal opinion that should not be dictated by government. Of ing this time found its way across the Atlantic. The four imperial the nine states thllat had established religions during the colonial wars between Protestant (ireat Britain and (Catholic France and period, three separated church and state in their new constitu- Spain intensified American animosity toward (Catholics. ()nly in tions-New fYork, North (Carolina, and Virginia. In the remaining six Maryland did Catholics find a welcome haven in Britain's New states, concessions were made allowinlg public support of more than World. one clhurch. Often in New England, this concession was nominal Jews. although discriminated against in every colony. were toler- because public fuinds vwould be given to only one church in a town, ated and prospered in Newport, Philadelphia. and (Charlestonl. and that alway's happened to be the (Congregational church be- After the Revolution, even the most tolerant states continued to caulse of its dlominance in every New England (cnionanela m parle -) RELIGIOUS RECORDS AS DOCUMENTARY SOURCES I,LPO .T1" aTT_riNI*. THE COMPLMISSION'S MEETINGS FOLLOW THE FISCAL YEAR OF OCTOBER 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30. CONSEQUENRLY, THE FIRST MEETING OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS IN NOVEMBER AND THE SECOND IS IN MAY. couraged to re sh, with appopriEa cm June 1 (for the November meeting) als appearing in anlioni. l4qtils Annotation, submitting materl or ior, Proposals addressing the following top priorities: related to it may be directed to tdietEdto *The NHPRC will provide the American public with wide- NHPRC, National Arehives and Recotds A spread access to the papers of the founders of our dem- 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. RO' 11 Dc 204o01z-6l0 4 ocratic republic and its institutions by ensuring the nhrcnartgw(cSal) Ww wM timely completion of eight projects now in progress to (World Wide Web). 0 ' publish the papers of George Washington, John Adams, Matoerial accepor bliain wil - Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, form to styk nd tot and papers that document the Ratification of the Consti- thors will be cu od tution, the First Federal Congress, and the early The editori in rbite in i grammtubin4mn. de ozea Supreme Court the vieft C i r o ie Nat *The NHPRC will promote broad public participation in and RcrsMnIiw&ttced ~4 historical documentation by collaborating with State His- challen e t thosI torical Records Advisory Boards to plan and carry out jointly funded programs to strengthen the nation's NsPRCMsn-oW C:fA archival infrastructure and expand the range of records United Stateai t D. h R that are protected and accessible U.S. Houe ofesent es; nlas *The NHPRC will enable the nation's archivists, records Marvin F. "Bud" Mss, tesetitf Xi managers, and documentary editors to overcome the ob- the United States;r Cles TCrn, stacles and take advantage of the opportunities posed Associaio for Documnay Editig t X by electronic technologies by continuing to provide leadership in funding research and development on ap- representing the U.S. Senate; Maryl i praising, preserving, disseminating, and providing access senting thhe Aei Histria to important documentary sources in electronic form Eaton, re of Att OCTOBER 1 (for the May meeting) Barbara J. Fields, representing the O Ameriant Historianis; Brent D. Glass, ril Proposals not addressing the above priorities, but focusing on an activity authorized in the NHPRC statute as American Assoiation for State and Loa follows: Goldberg, rep estig the Der *collecting, describing, preserving, compiling, and publishing Margaret P G :npSoreresentihog th (including microfilming and other forms of reproduction) David I. Souer, retorceeating rthe U.s' of documentary sources significant to the history of the United States *conducting institutes, training and educational courses, and Rey C. 7hsaeg.rereeningtheNao fellowships related to the activities of the Commission * disseminating inbformation about documentary sources through guides, directories, and other technical publications *-or,more specifically, documentary editing and publishing; archival preservation and processing of records for ac- cess; developing or updating descriptive systems; creation and development of archival and records management programs: development of standards, tools, and tech- niques to advance the work of archivists, records man- Manageint ad Progam Aayst, Mary A., OIW Di-: agers, and documentary editors; and promotion of the rector for Communications and Outreach; !aDaW Mie: use of records by teachers, students, and the public grove, Historian and Editor,r An niafl-a;Mi.chael; T:z Meier, Program Offlcer;u ,eau:reteco::or ,OntaP- APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND FORMS MAY BE REQUESTED FROM NHPRC, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, gram Assisat; Cassandra. Scott Staff A :... 700 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW, ROOM 111, WASHINGTON, DC A. Stokes, Prograrm Officer.: ' 20408-0001, 202-501-5610 (VOICE), 202-501-5601 (FAx), [email protected] (E-MAIL), OR BY ACCESSING OUR WEB SITE ISSN 0160-8460 AT www.nara.gov/nara/nhprc/ Annotanion Vol 30 1 March 2002 - I Important Documentary Sources odist Church in America; a project to arrange and describe papers involving pioneers in religious radio broadcasting; a project to de- Relating to the History of the velop a records management program and to arrange and describe records relating to the Buddhist churches of America; a project to United States collect and make accessible historical records on conservative Judaism inAmerica; and a project to conduct workshops across the The separation of church and state is a fun- country on basic archival techniques for persons designated as the damental precept of this nation, articulated archivists of their religious orders. in the First Amendment to our Constitu- Church and synagogue records of ceremonies surrounding births, tion. Throughout our history, religious marriages, and deaths constitute an