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WhoHadReligiousFreedomintheFoundingEra?
Part1:ColonizationandCatholicismInAmerica’s“CreationStory,”thePilgrimscametothenewworldforreligiousfreedom.Othersfollowedorspreadoutfromtheoriginalsettlementandestablishedmorecolonieswherecolonistscouldfreelypracticetheirreligions.EventuallythirteencoloniesrevoltedagainstpayingtaxesleviedbyaParliamentinwhichtheyhadnorepresentatives.Afterdeclaringandwinningtheirindependence,theyformedagovernmentbasedonaConstitutionthatrequiresnoreligioustestforholdingofficeandaddedaBillofRightsthatguaranteesreligiousfreedom.Allofthestatementsabovearetrue,butasinmostshortstories,somuchisleftoutthatthereaderorlistenercanmakeaseriesofincorrectinferences.Ifweadddetailstothisnarrative,specificallyaboutCatholicsinAmerica,wegetaratherdifferentstory.AmericancolonizationinwhatwouldbecometheNewEnglandStates,beginningwiththearrivalofthePuritansin1620,wastheresultofforcesunleashedin1517intheProtestantReformation.Formorethanacenturythisreligiousmovementinvolvedpersecutors,persecuted,andmartyrsandanever-increasingnumberofreligiousgroups.Somehistoriansentitlethisera“TheAgeofFaith”becausereligiousfeelingsweresostrongthatpeoplesacrificedandweresacrificedfortheirreligiousbeliefs.Inthis“AgeofFaith”therecouldbenocompromisingonone’sreligiousbeliefs.Todosocompromisedyourlife,yourdeath,andyoureternity.TheProtestantReformationwasaprotestagainsttheCatholicChurch.ThecolonistswhocametoBritishNorthAmericawereProtestants,peoplewhoseoriginswereinthisprotest.Someofthethirteencoloniesweresettledbydissenters—peoplewhorefusedtoregardCatholicsasareligiouspeopleworthyofnote.TheCatholicChurchwasviewedasafraudulentfaith.Itwaslabeled“theWhore”becauseithadprostituteditselfbytakingmoneyfrombelieversbuyingsalvation.ItsmemberswereviewedasnotChristiansbutPapists,because,asthereasoningwent,theyhadsubstitutedloyaltyandobediencetothePopeforloyaltyandobediencetoGod.ThesebeliefswerefirmlyheldbytheProtestantswhosettledAmerica.CatholicswerenotallowedtovoteorholdofficeinmostoftheoriginalEnglishcolonies.ThePuritanscameforreligiousfreedomforthemselves.Theyestablishedatheocracyrunof,by,andforPuritans.TheybelievedthatthepresenceofCatholics,aswellasAnglicansandQuakers,wouldtaintthepurityoftheirreligion.WiththeexceptionofRhodeIsland,allthecolonieshadestablishedchurchesthatwereProtestant.InNewEnglandtheestablishedchurchwasthePuritan,soontobecalltheCongregational.Inothercoloniestheestablished
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churchwasusuallytheAnglicanChurch(ChurchofEngland).AlldiscriminatedblatantlyagainstCatholics.OnlythreeofthethirteencoloniesallowedCatholicstovote.MostoftheNewEnglandcoloniesandtheCarolinasprohibitedCatholicsfromholdingoffice;Virginiawouldhavepriestsarrestedforenteringthecolony;CatholicschoolswerebannedinallcoloniesexceptPennsylvania.Marylandstartedoutastheexception.EstablishedbyanEnglishCatholic,CecilCalvert(LordBaltimore),itwastobeahaven,orsafeplace,foraCatholicminoritywithprotectionsfromtheProtestantmajorityguaranteedbyTheActConcerningReligion,passedbytheMarylandlegislaturein1649.ButMarylandsoonbecameaclassicexampleofthe“tyrannyofthemajority.”WhenProtestantsoutnumberedCatholicsthirty-to-one,lawswerepassedthatpreventedCatholicsfrominheritingorpurchasingland,imprisonedpriestsforlife,prohibitedCatholicworship,anddeniedCatholicstherighttovote.In1715theMarylandlegislaturerequiredchildrenofaProtestantfatherandaCatholicmothertobetakenawayfromthemotherifthefatherdied.OfficeholdershadtoswearallegiancetotheChurchofEngland.SomuchforasafehavenforCatholics.PhiladelphiahadtheonlyCatholicChurchthatwasprotectedbyacolonialgovernmentinallthecolonies.ItwasherethatJohnAdamsattendedaCatholicmassatSt.Mary’sChurchwhileamemberoftheContinentalCongress.HisattendancewasnotindicativeoftolerationfortheCatholicfaith,butaresultofhisreligiouscuriosity.In1765hehadwrittenthatthe“whoreofBabylon”hadfalselygrabbedthe“keystoheaven”andsurvivedbykeepingsubjectsin“sordidignoranceandstaringtimidity.”Afterattendingmassin1774hedescribedhisimpressionstohiswife,Abigail:
“Thepoorwretchesfingeringtheirbeads,chantingLatin,notawordofwhichtheyunderstood.TheirholyWater—theirCrossingthemselvesperpetually—theirBowingtotheNameofJesus,wherevertheyhearit—theirBowings,andKneelings,andGenuflectionsbeforetheAltar….ButhowshallIdescribethePictureofourSaviourinaFrameofMarbleovertheAltaratfullLengthupontheCross,intheAgonies,andtheBlooddroppingandstreamingfromhisWounds...HereiseverythingwhichcanlayholdoftheEye,Ear,andImagination.EveryThingwhichcancharmandbewitchthesimpleandignorant.”
JohnAdams,likehiscousinSamuel,wasrearedasaPuritan.PuritanshadrevoltedagainsttheAnglicanChurchbecauseitwastoomuchliketheCatholic.ToPuritans,Catholicismwastyranny;itwasanenemytoright-thinkingProtestantsandtodemocracyaswell.
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Source1(continued)Part2:TheAmericanRevolutionandAnti-CatholicSentimentBythetimeoftheAmericanRevolution,therewereawidevarietyofProtestantchurchesinthecolonies—Presbyterians,Lutherans,Mennonites,Moravians,Baptists,Methodists,Quakers.Colonistscelebrated“PopeDay,”anannualfestivalinwhicheffigiesofthePopewereburnedandspeechesmadeandnewspaperarticleswrittenattestingtotheeviloftheCatholicChurch.WhiletheAmerican“creationstory”typicallyfocusesoneconomicandpoliticalcausesfortheAmericanRevolution,therewereconsumingreligiousissuesaswell.LeadersoftheRevolutionusedreligiouslanguageandfearofBritishmeddlinginthereligiouspracticesinAmericatoarousethecommonpeople.SamAdamsisaprimeexample.IntheBostonGazetteofApril11,1768,Adams,writingas“APuritan,”portrayedthethreatofCatholicismbeingimposedonAmericaasworseeventhantheStampAct.Hewrote:
muchmoreistobedreadedfromthegrowthofPOPERYinAmerica,thanfromStampActsoranyotherActsdestructiveofmen’scivilrights:Nay,IcouldnothelpfancyingthattheStamp-Actitselfwascontrivedonlytoinurethepeopletothehabitofcontemplatingthemselvesastheslavesofmen;andthetransitionfromthencetoasubjectiontoSatan,ismightyeasy.”
InaletterSamAdamswroteonJanuary12,1768,hewroteof“theconqueredprovinceofCanada,wheretheexerciseoftheRomishreligion,sodestructivetocivilsociety,isallowed.”FearofhavingtheCatholicreligionimposedontheAmericancoloniesintensifiedwhenParliamentpassedtheQuebecActin1774.HavingtakencontrolofCanadafromCatholicFranceintheTreatyofParisof1763attheendoftheFrenchandIndianWar,ParliamentdecidedtoaccordreligiousfreedomtotheCatholicslivinginQuebec,allowingtheCatholicChurchtoremaintheestablishedchurch.WhilethismayhaveappearedtobeanactofreligioustolerationbytheAnglicanParliament,totheAmericancolonistsitappearedasyetanotherthreattotheirliberties.InSeptember1774,SamAdams’closefriendDr.JosephWarren,wroteTheSuffolkResolves.TheywerequicklycarriedtoPhiladelphiabyPaulRevereandpresentedtotheContinentalCongress:
Great-Britain,whichofoldpersecuted,scourged,andexiledourfugitiveparentsfromtheirnativeshores,nowpursuesus,theirguiltlesschildren,withunrelentingseverity...ItisanindispensabledutywhichweowetoGod,ourcountry,ourselvesandposterity,byalllawfulwaysandmeansinourpowertomaintain,defend,andpreservethosecivilandreligiousrightsandliberties,for
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whichmanyofourfathersfought,bledanddied,andtohandthemdownentiretofuturegenerations.
Source1(continued)MakingreferencetotheQuebecAct,TheSuffolkResolvescontinued:
thelateactofparliamentforestablishingtheRomanCatholicreligionandtheFrenchlawsinthatextensivecountry,nowcalledCanada,isdangerousinanextremedegreetotheProtestantreligionandtothecivilrightsandlibertiesofallAmerica;and,therefore,asmenandProtestantChristians,weareindispensablyobligedtotakeallpropermeasuresforoursecurity.
TheSuffolkResolveswereapprovedandpublishedbytheContinentalCongress.TherewasnoseriousevidencethattheQuebecActposedarealdangertotheAmericancolonies,butrevolutionsarebuiltonemotion,perhapsmoresothanonreason.Thecolonists,intheirdistrustofKingandParliament,believedthatEnglandwouldusereligionasaninstrumentoftyranny.TheFirstContinentalCongresschargedthattheQuebecActwouldcauseCanadianCatholics“toactwithhostilityagainstthefreeProtestantcolonies,wheneverawickedMinistryshallchoosetodirectthem.”HatredandfearofCatholicswassowidespreadthatRogerShermanandothermembersoftheContinentalCongresswantedtoprohibitCatholicsfromservingintheContinentalarmy.ThePennsylvaniaGazettesaidthattheQuebecActwouldallow“thesedogsofHell”to“erecttheirHeadsandtriumphwithinourBorders.”TheBostonEveningPostwrotethattheactwas“fortheexecutionofthishellishplan”toorganizefourthousandCanadianCatholicsforanattackonAmerica.InRhodeIsland,everysingleissueoftheNewportMercuryfromOctober1,1774toMarch20,1775,containedatleastoneattackontheCatholicreligionoftheCanadians.Protestantclergyfannedtheflames.AlexanderHamiltonjudgedtheQuebecActadiabolicalthreat,asking,“DoesnotyourbloodruncoldtothinkthatanEnglishParliamentshouldpassanActfortheestablishmentofarbitrarypowerandPoperyinsuchanextensivecountry?Yourlives,yourproperty,yourreligionareallatstake.”OnOctober21,1774,theContinentalCongresssentanappeal“tothePeopleofGreatBritain,”expressingshockthatParliamentwouldpromoteareligionthat“disbursedimpiety,bigotry,persecution,murderandrebellionsthrougheverypartoftheworld.”OnFriday,October14,1774,SamAdamswasappointedtoathree-membercommitteetowritealettertoGeneralThomasGage.Theyweretoenumeratetheviolationsoftherightsofthecolonies.AmongthegrievanceslistedwastheQuebecAct,which,thereportsaid,was“notonlyunjusttothepeopleinthatProvince,butdangeroustotheinterestsoftheProtestantreligionandoftheseColonies,andoughttoberepealed.”InapetitionsentbyCongressonOctober26forBenjaminFranklintopresenttoKingGeorgeIII,AmericanscomplainedoftheQuebecAct’s“establishinganabsolutegovernmentandtheRomanCatholickreligionthroughoutthosevastregions,thatborderonthewesterlyandnortherlyboundariesof
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thefreeprotestantEnglishsettlements.”Thecolonistswereconvincedthatpoliticalandreligiouslibertywereconnected.
Source1(continued)Therevolutionaries’scruplesagainsthavinganestablishedCatholicChurchontheirborderdidnotpreventthemfromsendingBenjaminFranklintoFrancetoobtainaidandtrytogainatreatyofalliancewithCatholicFrance.AftertheAmericanvictoryatSaratogain1777,FranklinsucceededinsigningatreatyofalliancewithhisCatholicMajesty,LouisXVI.GeneralBenedictArnoldwastheunsungherooftheAmericanvictoryatSaratoga,butweknowArnoldbestforbeingtheforemosttraitortothePatriotcause.ArnoldjustifiedhistreasonasalegitimateresponsetotheprostitutionoftheAmericancausebytakingmoneyfromandsigninganalliancewithCatholicFrance!JustastheexigenciesofwarresultedinacceptanceofaidfromaCatholiccountry,sotheneedforsoldiersmotivatedGeneralGeorgeWashingtontodemandtolerancetowardCatholicsintheContinentalArmy.Hescoldedtroopscelebrating“PopeDay”inCambridge,Massachusetts,callingita“ridiculousandchildishcustom.”Possiblyasaresultofhisexample,thepracticeofburningeffigiesofthePopeandnewspaperattacksonCatholicsdecreased.WashingtonalsodiscouragedCatholic-bashing,seeingtheimportanceofnotantagonizingCatholicCanadiansonthecountry’snorthernborder.SomeGermanCatholicsbenefitedfromtheContinentalCongress’seffortstoenticeHessianmercenariestodesertfromtheBritisharmy.Theywereabletogaincitizenship,fiftyacresoflandANDreligiousfreedomiftheydidso.TheofferappliedtoallHessians,ProtestantorCatholic.Part3:CatholicsintheNewCountryTherewasoneCatholicdelegateintheContinentalCongress.CharlesCarrollsignedtheDeclarationofIndependenceandlaterwrote,“WhenIsignedtheDeclarationofIndependence,Ihadinview,notonlyourindependencefromEngland;butthetolerationofallsectsprofessingtheChristianreligion,andcommunicatingtothemallequalrights.”Carroll’shopeswerenotrealized.Asthestateswrotetheirconstitutions,onlyNewYorkandVirginiaallowedmentoserveinstategovernmentregardlessoftheirreligiousbeliefs.NewJersey,Vermont,NorthCarolina,Maryland,andGeorgiaretainedtheirbansonCatholicsholdingoffice.Manyofthestates,suchatConnecticutandMassachusetts,usedtaxestosupporttheestablishedchurch.TheConstitutiondidallowCatholicstoholdnationalofficebecause,intheonlyreferencetoreligionintheU.S.Constitution,therecouldbe“noreligious”testforofficeholding.In1791theBillofRightswasratifiedandbecamepartoftheConstitution.TheFirstAmendmentguaranteedfreedomofreligionbutthisguaranteedidnotapplytostategovernmentsuntil1940!IncasesdecidedbytheU.S.SupremeCourtin1940and1947itwasruledthattheFourteenthAmendmenttotheConstitution(1877)“incorporated”
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theguaranteeofreligiousfreedomasonetobeprotectedbythefederalgovernmentagainstviolationbystategovernments.
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Source1(continued)Part4:BeliefsoftheFounders
Intooldage,JohnAdamsstillbelievedthatCatholicismanddemocracywereincompatible.JohnAdamssharedhisthoughtswithJeffersonintwolettersoftheirretirementcorrespondence.JohnAdamstoThomasJefferson
QuincyJuly16,1814
...cabballisticalChristianitywhichisCatholicChristianity,andwhichhasprevailedfor1500Years,hasrec’d.amortalWoundofwhichtheMonstermustfinallydie;YetsostrongishisconstitutionthathemayendureforCenturiesbeforeheexpires....
JohnAdamstoThomasJefferson
Montezillo*February3d.1821
IhavelongbeendecidedinopinionthatafreegovernmentandtheRomanCatholickreligioncanneverexisttogetherinanynationorCountry,andconsequentlythatallprojectsforreconcilingtheminoldSpainornewareEutopian,PlatonickandChimerical.IhaveseensuchaprostrationandprostitutionofHumanNaturetothePriesthoodinoldSpainassettledmyjudgmentlongago.
PresidentWashington,ontheotherhand,expressedamoretolerantattitude.WhenAmericanCatholicswrotehimaskingfor“theequalrightsofcitizenship,asthepriceofourbloodspiltunderyoureyes,”Washingtonagreed,replying:“Asmankindbecomesmoreliberal,theywillbeapttoallowthatallthosewhoconductthemselvesworthymembersofthecommunityareequallyentitledtotheprotectionofcivilgovernment.”*In1819AdamsbeginsteasingJefferson,wholivedatMonticello[Italianfor“littlemountain”],bywritingfrom“MontezilloAliasthelittleHill.”
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Source:LesterJ.Cappon,ed.,TheAdams-JeffersonLetters
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Source2
CopiedbyPaulReverefortheRoyalAmericanMagazine,October1774.
©TrusteesoftheBritishMuseum.Usedwithpermission.
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Source3
UrsulineConventFire,Charlestown,MA,1834
Imagelocatedat:http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/know-nothing-party-takes-root-in-ashes-of-destroyed-charlestown-convent/
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AnAnti-CatholicpetitionfromNewYorknativiststotheU.S.Congress,1837TotheHonorabletheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStates,inCongressAssembled:“...TheeasyaccessofforeignerstotheelectivefranchiseintheUnitedStates,bythepresentlawsofnaturalization,andofforeignersofdoubtfulmoralsandhostilepoliticalprinciples,isasourceofdangertoourcivilandreligiousliberties,towhichyourMemorialistswouldhumblyandearnestlyinvitethespeedyattentionofCongress.”“...Ifwecherishcivilandreligiouslibertiesandesteemthemaboveallprice,wehavearighttodefendthemfromforeigninvasion;whetheritapproachbyopenwarfare,orinsidiouslybyobtainingtheprivilegeofcitizenship.”“...YourMemorialistsviewwithdeepconcernthegreatinfluxofRomanCatholicsintothiscountryfromthevariousnationsofEurope,andtheiradmissiontocitizenshipwhiletheyretaintheirprinciples,aseminentlythreateningourcivilandreligiousliberties.”“...Ourconstitutionhappilyallowsthefreetolerationofallreligions;itisforthistolerationthatwepleadagainstareligionwhichrefusesit.”“...YourMemorialists,unwillingtoencroachfurtheronyourpatience,earnestlypetitionyourhonorablebodytoinquirewhethertheprinciplesofRomanCatholics,asheldatpresentaswellasformerly,arenotpoliticalandhostiletocivilandreligiousliberty;andwhethertheirreligionisnotessentiallypolitical,requiringtheunionofChurchandState,andthesubjectionofthelattertotheformer;andwhetheritdoesnotrequireallegiancetothePopeofRome,holdingtheobligationtoobeyhim,asparamount....?”“...[petitionyourhonorablebodytoinquire]whetheranyamendmentofthelawsofnaturalizationcanmorefullysecureourfreeinstitutions,ourliberties,civilandreligious,againstthedangerofsubversionbyforeigninfluenceanddespotictyrannicalprinciples,evenunderthecloakofreligion.Allwhichisrespectfullysubmitted....” Ninety-sevensignaturesfollowed.NationalArchives,Washington,DC.
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Source5
Immigration,Politics,andthe“Know-Nothing”PartyItsoundslikeajoke,butthe“Know-Nothing”Partywasanythingbut.Americanswhoopposedcontinuedimmigration,particularlyimmigrationfromCatholiccountries,begantogatherinsecretsocietiestoopposeimmigration,immigrants,andCatholics.Whentheywereaskedfordetailsabouttheirgroups,theyresponded,“Iknownothing,”hencethenickname.TheburningoftheUrsulineConventinCharlestown,Massachusettsisnottheonlysuchactofviolence.InJuly1844therewereriotsinPhiladelphiainwhichNativistsfoughtIrishimmigrants,andtwoCatholicchurchesandaCatholicschoolwereburned.Atleasttwentypeoplewerekilledintheseriots.InNewYorkCityin1844,anti-Catholicmobsparadedthroughthestreets.TheArchbishopcalledontheIrishtodefendtheoriginalSt.Patrick’sCathedralonMottStreet.TheIrishwererumoredtobeheavilyarmedandthemobsdispersed.NoCatholicchurcheswereburnedinNewYork.ThenativistsemergedfromsecrecyandfoundedtheAmericanPartyin1849.TheyadvertisedtheidealAmerican,awhite,Anglo-Saxonyoungman.Theycontinuedthepressureofearlierpetitionerstochangethenaturalizationlawssothatitwouldtaketwenty-fiveyearstobecomeacitizen.AnAmericanPartydocumentstated:
theobjectofthisorganizationshallbetoprotecteveryAmericancitizeninthelegalandproperexerciseofallhiscivilandreligiousrightsandprivileges;toresisttheinsidious[evil]policyoftheChurchofRomeandallotherforeigninfluenceagainstourrepublicaninstitutionsinalllawfulways;toplaceinallofficesofhonor,trust,orprofit,inthegiftofthepeoplebyappointment,nonebutnaïvebornProtestantcitizensandtoprotect,preserve,andupholdtheUnionoftheseStatesandtheConstitutionofthesame.
TheAmericanPartyrancandidatesforofficein1854andhadsomesuccessinlocalelectionsinthenortheast.In1856formerpresidentMillardFillmoreranastheAmericanParty(Know-Nothing)candidateforpresident.HelostbadlytoJamesBuchanan.FillmorehadbeenaWhig.ManymembersoftheoldWhigpartyhadgravitatedtotheAmericanParty.OnenotableWhigwhodidnotjointhenativistswasAbrahamLincoln.Whenaskedin1855ifhehadbecomeaKnow-Nothing,LincolnofferedthefollowingreplyinanAugust24lettertoJoshuaSpeed:
IamnotaKnow-Nothing.Thatiscertain.HowcouldIbe?Howcananyonewhoabhorstheoppressionofnegroes,beinfavorofdegradingclassesofwhitepeople?Ourprogressindegeneracyappearstometobeprettyrapid.Asanation,webeganbydeclaringthat,“allmenarecreatedequal.”Wenowpracticallyreadit“allmenarecreatedequal,exceptNegroes.”WhentheKnow-Nothingsgetcontrol,itwillread,“allmenarecreatedequal,exceptNegroesandforeignersandCatholics.”Whenitcomestothis,Ishallpreferemigratingtosomecountrywheretheymakenopretenseoflovingliberty–toRussia,forinstance,wheredespotismcanbetakenpureandwithoutthebaseallowofhypocrisy.
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Source6
ThomasNast,Harper’sWeekly,May8,1875Source:http://www.harpweek.com/09cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Month=May&Date=8
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Source7
UlyssesS.GrantSpeechBeforetheConventionoftheSocietyoftheArmyoftheTennessee,
MeetinginDesMoines,Iowa.DeliveredSeptember30,1875
AsreprintedintheNewYorkTribune,October1,1875
Now,thecentennialyearofournationalexistence,Ibelieve,isagoodtimetobegintheworkofstrengtheningthefoundationsofthestructurecommencedbyourpatrioticforefathersonehundredyearsagoatLexington.Letusalllabortoaddallneedfulguaranteesforthesecurityoffreethought,freespeech,afreepress,puremorals,unfetteredreligioussentiments,andofequalrightsandprivilegestoallmenirrespectiveofnationality,color,orreligion.Encouragefreeschools,andresolvethatnotonedollar,appropriatedfortheirsupport,shallbeappropriatedtothesupportofanysectarianschools.ResolvethatneithertheStatenorNation,norbothcombinedshallsupportinstitutionsoflearningotherthanthosesufficienttoaffordtoeverychildgrowingupinthelandtheopportunityofagoodcommonschooleducation,unmixedwithsectarian,pagan,oratheisticaldogmas.Leavethematterofreligiontothefamilyaltar,theChurch,andtheprivateschool,supportedentirelybyprivatecontributions.KeeptheChurchandStateforeverseparate.Withthesesafeguards,IbelievethebattleswhichcreatedtheArmyoftheTennesseewillnothavebeenfoughtinvain.Source:http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1875-10-01/ed-1/seq-1/
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Source8
PresidentU.S.GrantandtheCommonSchoolsIssue:YouBetheJudgeOnSeptember30,1875,PresidentU.S.GrantdeliveredaSpeechbeforetheconventionoftheSocietyoftheArmyoftheTennesseemeetinginDesMoines,Iowa.PrintedbelowaresecondarysourceaccountsofGrant’saction.TheauthorsofferdifferentinterpretationsofGrant’sspeech.Readandsummarizethepointofviewofeachauthorandwriteaparagraphinwhichyoutakeapositionanduseevidencefromthereadings. InterpretationA:
Sensinganopportunityintheanti-Catholicsentimentoftheday,PresidentGrantwenttoDesMoinesintheautumnof1875andcalledfornewconstitutionalactiontopreventaidtoparochialschools.“Ifwearetohaveanothercontestinthenearfutureofournationalexistence,IpredictthatthedividinglinewillnotbeMasonandDixon’s,butitwillbebetweenpatriotismandintelligenceononeside,andsuperstition,ambitionandignoranceontheother.Encouragefreeschools,andresolvethatnotonedollarappropriatedtothemshallbeappliedtothesupportofanysectarianschool....Leavethematterofreligiontothefamilyaltar,thechurch,andtheprivateschool,supportedentirelyprivatecontribution.KeeptheChurchandStateforeverseparate.”
JonMeacham,AmericanGospel:God,theFoundingFathers,andtheMakingofaNation(NewYork:RandomHouseTradePaperbacks,2006).InterpretationB:
AthirdareainwhichGrantdefendedprincipleinvolvedtheseparationofchurchandstate.Theissuehadtwodimensions:publicfundingforsectarianeducation,andreligiousexercisesinpublicschools.ThequestionpittedProtestantsagainstCatholics,andGrantsteppedsquarelyinbetween....WhyGrantwadedintothedisputehasneverbeenadequatelyexplained.ButonSeptember30,1875,withoutwarningorpreliminarybuildup,thepresidentoftheUnitedStatesgavebothProtestantsandCatholicsasternlectureonreligioustoleranceandtheseparationofchurchandstate.Grantcrystallizedtheissue,capturedthepublic’sattention,andredirectedthedebate.SpeakingtotheveteransoftheArmyoftheTennessee,asettinginwhichhethrived,Grantmadethemostemotionalspeechofhiscareer.
Forthepresident,freepubliceducationlayattherootofthenation’sliberty,andwithremarkableevenhandednesshebeltedProtestantsandCatholicsalike:providenoaidforparochialeducation,butkeepreligionoutoftheclassroom.“ResolvethatneithertheStatenorthenationshallsupport
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institutionsoflearningotherthanthosesufficienttoaffordtoeverychildtheopportunityofagoodcommon-schooleducation,unmixedwithsectarian,pagan,oratheisticdogmas.Leavethe
Source8(continued)
matterofreligiontothefamilyaltar,thechurch,andtheprivateschoolsupportedentirelybyprivatecontributions.Keepthechurchandstateforeverseparate.”
Grant’sunexpectedinterventionintheschoolquestionreverberatedacrossthecountry.TheNewYorkTimesandtheNewYorkTribunejoinedinpraisingthewisdomofthepresident’swords.TheChicagoTribunesaidthespeech“setthenationagog....Mostimportant,perhaps,thepresident’sdemandfortheseparationofchurchandstatetookthewindfrommilitantProtestantsadvocatingapro-religionamendmenttotheConstitution.
Grant’sinterventionintheschoolquestioncausedeachsidetodrawback.Hisemphasisonfreepubliceducationgalvanizedthemovementforeducationreform.Hisemphasisonseparationofchurchandstatemoderatedthedebate.”
JeanEdwardSmith,Grant(NewYork:Simon&Schuster,2001).
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Source9
ACatholicforPresident!–TheElectionof1928“ThelargenumbersofCatholicswhopouredintoAmericafromeasternandsouthernEuropeduringthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturiesgaverisetoanewpoliticalbattleovertheplaceofreligioninAmerica.ThecentralquestionwaswhetherAmericanProtestantvoterswouldentrustthenation’shighestofficetoaCatholic.ForthePuritanFathers,Catholicshadnoplaceinthe“CityuponaHill,”anexclusionthatmany,ifnotmost,Protestantscontinuedtoapplaud.AndwhiletheFoundingFathers’banonreligioustestshadmadeCatholicseligibleforthepresidency,onlyProtestantshadbeenelected.Supportingbygrowingnumbersoftheircoreligionists,CatholicsinthetwentiethcenturymadeseriousrunsfortheWhiteHouse.Twice,Catholicswontheirparty’snomination,andbothtimestheirreligionbecameacentralcampaignissue.Opponentsofthe1928DemocraticnomineehelpeddefeatAlfredE.SmithbyraisinghisCatholicismasascaretactic,implyingthathisloyaltywastothepope,nottothepeopleofAmerica.”FrankLambert,TheFoundingFathersandthePlaceofReligioninAmerica(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,2003).
TheKuKluxKlanbecameactivelyinvolvedintheelectionof1928inanefforttopreventaCatholicfrombecomingpresident.Oneleaderproclaimed,“WenowfacethedarkesthourinAmericanhistory.InaconventionruledbypoliticalRomanism,anti-Christhaswon?”
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Mapfromhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1928_Electoral_Map.png
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Whoarethetwo“Johns”depictedintheCartoon?HowdoesthiscartooncomparetotheAlSmithcartoonfromthe1928election?WhatdothesecartoonssuggestaboutthefearshouldaCatholicbeelectedpresident?Whatinformationismissingfromthiscartoonthatmighthelpyoudetermineitsreliabilityasasource?
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Reprintedathttp://catholicjournalist.blogspot.com
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FromTheodoreCaplow,LouisHicks,andBenJ.Wattenberg,eds.,TheFirstMeasuredCentury:AnIllustratedGuidetoTrendsinAmerica,1900-2000(Washington,DC:AEIPress,2001).Usedwithpermission.
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ACatholicforPresident–theElectionof1960JohnF.KennedymighthavebeentheDemocrat’svice-presidentialcandidatein1956,buthewasCatholic!JamesFarley,chairmanoftheDemocraticNationalCommitteefrom1932to1940andstilloneofthemostimportantpartyleaderstoldpresidentialcandidateAdaliStevenson,“AmericaisnotreadyforaCatholic.”FormerDemocraticPresident,HarryTruman,quicklydismissedtheidea.PowerfulSpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives,SamRayburndismissedtheideanotonlybecauseKennedywasCatholicbutalsobecausehedislikedtheSenator.ButKennedydidsucceedingainingtheDemocraticnominationforpresidentin1960.Hislongtimefriend,speechwriter,andspecialcounselobserved,“Thesinglebiggestobstacletohiselectionwashisreligion....Youshouldhaveseenthehatemailthatcamein,bothfromrednecksandfromliberalintellectualswhoshouldhaveknownbetter.”Ascanbeseeninthepoliticalcartoon,“TwoJohns,”AmericanobjectionstoaCatholicpresidentin1960weresimilartothosein1928.Asthecampaignprogressed,Kennedychidedjournalistsfortheirobsessionwithhisreligion.“IthinkthevotersofWisconsinobjectedtobeingcategorizedsimplyaseitherCatholicsorProtestants....Ithinktheyobjectedtobeingaccostedbyreportersoutsideofpoliticalmeetingsandaskedonequestiononly—theirreligion—nottheiroccupationoreducationorphilosophyorincome,onlytheirreligion.”KennedyalsotriedtodealwiththepoliticaldifficultiesresultingfromtheCatholicdoctrineof“PapalInfallibility”withhumor.SpeakingtoagroupofnewspapereditorsinWashington,D.C.,KennedyclaimedtohaverecentlyspokenwiththepowerfulArchbishopofNewYork,FrancisCardinalSpellman.Hejoked,“IsatnexttoCardinalSpellmanatdinnertheotherevening,andaskedhimwhatIshouldsaywhenvotersquestionmeaboutthedoctrineofthepope’sinfallibility.‘Idon’tknow,Senator,’theCardinaltoldme.‘AllIknowishekeepscallingmeSpillman.’”InthepresidentialprimaryelectioninWestVirginia,pollsinDecembershowedKennedyleadingHubertHumphreyfromMinnesota,70%forKennedyand30%forHumphrey.Butinalaterpoll,hissupporthadfallento40%andcomparedto60%forHumphrey.Whenaskedaboutthehugedifference,theKennedycampaignwastold,“ButnooneinWestVirginiaknewyouwereaCatholicinDecember.Nowtheyknow.”Awomaninterviewedproudlyclaimed,“I’mnotprejudiced.Aman’sreligionshouldn’thaveanythingtodowithit.”Butshewentontosay,“ButamanoughttobeagoodCatholicifhe’sgoingtobeone.Andtheybelieveinchurch-and-stateandIdon’t.”AnotherwomanclearlystatedherviewofAmericaanditspolitics,”We’veneverhadaCatholicPresidentandIhopeweneverdo.Ourpeoplebuiltthiscountry.IftheyhadwantedaCatholictobePresident,theywouldhavesaidsointheConstitution.”
WouldKennedybenefitmorefromtheincreasedCatholicvotepossiblein1960ascomparedto1928orlosemorebecauseoftheProtestantanti-CatholicsentimentsthathadexistedforoverthreehundredyearsinAmerica?WouldvotersvotetheirpastorlooktoanewAmericanfuture?
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“Recent Studies by Dr. Gallup report a big backswing of Catholic voters into the Democratic Party in the congressional elections of 1958. The report says that 75 per cent of Catholics voted for Democratic congressional candidates in that year. In twelve states of the industrial East, the Gallup analysis says, the number of Catholic Democrats in 1958 actually was greater than that of Protestant Democrats. A breakdown of the Democratic vote in these states into religious groups showed 48 per cent Catholic, 35 per cent Protestant, 13 per cent Jewish, and 4 per cent other religions. The 12 states were the six in New England plus New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia. These states combined have 153 electoral votes.” !
!?*D2-%b!S%I(!%I-%23(%B!C2*1!>U,++!()%!L%+,$,*D.!<..D%!?(*3!c%//%B4!,/!=76i@![T;%A5B1%\%W)#*.%75C)#$N%?%3(%1G%2!P8!&`O`E!</C*$2#3),-!n!X&`O`Y!V#++D38!</-E!0++!2,$)(.!2%.%2H%BE!S)%!-*/(%/(!,.!D.%B!A,()!3%21,..,*/[!)*A%H%28!V#++D3!2%(#,/.!#++!2,$)(.!*C!2%3DG+,-#(,*/E!! !
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PresidentialLeadershipRelatedtoReligiousBigotryReadthestatementsbelowfromGeorgeWashington,AbrahamLincoln,U.S.GrantandTheodoreRoosevelt.
CompareandContrasttheStatements.PresidentWashingtonrespondingtoAmericanCatholicswrotehimaskingfor“theequalrightsofcitizenship,asthepriceofourbloodspiltunderyoureyes,”
“Asmankindbecomesmoreliberal,theywillbeapttoallowthatallthosewhoconductthemselvesworthymembersofthecommunityareequallyentitledtotheprotectionofcivilgovernment.”(LettertoRomanCatholicsinAmerica,March15,1790)
AbrahamLincolnrespondingtoaquestionabouttheKnow-NothingParty:
“IamnotaKnow-Nothing.Thatiscertain.HowcouldIbe?Howcananyonewhoabhorstheoppressionofnegroes,beinfavorofdegradingclassesofwhitepeople?Ourprogressindegeneracyappearstometobeprettyrapid.Asanation,webeganbydeclaringthat,“allmenarecreatedequal.”Wenowpracticallyreadit“allmenarecreatedequal,exceptNegroes.”WhentheKnow-Nothingsgetcontrol,itwillread,“allmenarecratedequal,exceptNegroesandforeignersandCatholics.”Whenitcomestothis,Ishallpreferemigratingtosomecountrywheretheymakenopretenseoflovingliberty–toRussia,forinstance,wheredespotismcanbetakenpureandwithoutthebaseallowofhypocrisy.”(LettertoJoshuaSpeed,August24,1855.)
UlyssesS.Grantspeakingaboutissuesarisingbetweencommonschoolsandparochialschools:
"Now,thecentennialyearofournationalexistence,Ibelieve,isagoodtimetobegintheworkofstrengtheningthefoundationsofthestructurecommencedbyourpatrioticforefathersonehundredyearsagoatLexington.Letusalllabortoaddallneedfulguaranteesforthesecurityoffreethought,freespeech,afreepress,puremorals,unfetteredreligioussentiments,andofequalrightsandprivilegestoallmenirrespectiveofnationality,color,orreligion.Encouragefreeschools,andresolvethatnotonedollar,appropriatedfortheirsupport,shallbeappropriatedtothesupportofanysectarianschools.ResolvethatneithertheStatenorNation,norbothcombinedshallsupportinstitutionsoflearningotherthanthosesufficienttoaffordtoeverychildgrowingupinthelandtheopportunityof[sic]agoodcommonschooleducation,unmixedwithsectarian,pagan,oratheisticaldogmas.Leavethematterofreligiontothefamilyaltar,theChurch,andtheprivateschool,supportedentirelybyprivatecontributions.KeeptheChurchandStateforeverseparate.Withthesesafeguards,IbelievethebattleswhichcreatedtheArmyoftheTennesseewillnothavebeenfoughtinvain."[AsreprintedintheNewYorkTribune,October1,1875]
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PresidentialLeadershipRelatedtoReligiousBigotry(continued)
TheodoreRoosevelt,speakingatthetimeofthe1908electioninsupportofWilliamHowardTaftagainstWilliamJenningsBryan:
“IbelievethatthisRepublicwillendureformanycenturies.IfsotherewilldoubtlessbeamongitsPresidentsProtestantsandCatholics,and,veryprobablyatsometime,Jews.IhaveconsistentlytriedwhilePresidenttoactinrelationtomyfellowAmericansofCatholicfaithasIhopethatanyfuturePresidentwhohappenstobeaCatholicwillacttowardshisfellowAmericansofProtestantfaith.HadIfollowedanyothercourseIshouldhavefeltthatIwasunfittorepresenttheAmericanpeople.”(InresponsetolettersreceivedattemptingtomakeTaft’sreligionanissueintheelection,November9,1908)
Whatdoesthistellusabouttheimportanceandlimitsofpresidentialleadershiponasocialissue?
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ThomasNast,between1860-1902,unpublished.Whatisironicaboutthelabelof“foreign”reptilesinthiscartoon?Source:LibraryofCongress,http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2010717281/
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