Constitutional Debates on Freedom of Religion: A Documentary History

by Gerald Long, John J. Patrick

Overview

Debates over the separation or accommodation of religion and government have divided Americans since the founding of our country and continue to echo in governmental chambers today, as people argue sharply and heatedly about the exact meaning and correct applications of First Amendment clauses on religious establishment and free exercise of religion. Students can trace the history and development of these arguments, as well as the reactions to them, through this unique collection of over 70 primary documents. Court cases and other documents bring to life the controversies surrounding the issues. Explanatory introductions to documents aid users in understanding the various arguments put forth, while illuminating the significance of each document.

Patrick and Long trace the origins and changes in the nature of the debates surrounding the issue of freedom of religion using carefully chosen court cases and other documents to reflect the fact that the Court's decision has not always ended public controversy about the relationships between church and state or religion and government. Indeed, especially in recent years, the Court's decisions in some cases have exacerbated old tensions and generated new issues. The focus throughout is on the connection between the U.S. Constitution and freedom of religion. The introductory and explanatory text help readers understand the nature of the conflicts, the issues being litigated, the social and cultural pressures that shaped each debate, and the manner in which the passions of individual government officials, justices, and our presidents affected the development of policies concerning freedom of religion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313301407
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/1999
Series:	Primary Documents in American History and Contemporary Issues
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

JOHN J. PATRICK is Director of the Social Studies Development Center and Professor of Education at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is the editor of Founding the Republic: A Documentary History (Greenwood, 1995) and the author of How to Teach the Bill of Rights.

GERALD P. LONG is a teacher of history and government at Brown County High School in Nashville, IN. He is the author of Constitutional Rights of Juveniles and Students: Lessons on Sixteen Supreme Court Cases.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword
Introduction
Chronology of Key Events
Colonial Roots of Religious Liberty, 1606-1776
Religious Liberty in the Founding of the United States, 1776-1791
The Constitutional Right to Free Exercise of Religion, 1791-1991
The Constitutional Prohibition of an Establishment of Religion, 1791-1991
Constitutional Issues on Freedom of Religion, 1991-1998
Index

Editorial Reviews

Students can trace the history and development of arguments surrounding the separation and accommodation of religion and government through this unique collection of some 70 primary documents. Court cases and other documents bring to life controversies surrounding the exact meaning and correct applications of First Amendment clauses on religious establishment and free exercise of religion. Explanatory introductions to documents aid users in understanding various arguments. Includes a glossary. The editors are affiliated with Indiana University and Brown County High School. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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