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
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