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Freedom Forum: Finding Common Ground Religious Liberty in Public Schools [Pdf]
A lengthy report on the issue of religious liberty and the public schools. Issues explored are religious holidays, a teacher's guide to the teaching of religion, and much more. The report is in PDF format.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Anniversary of September 11 Highlights Attitude Toward Islam
Two controversies surround an anniversary of the September 11 attacks: plans to burn a Koran and plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero. These instances can serve as examples in the debate over religious freedom and religious tolerance...
Library of Virginia
Virginia Memory: Constitution Day Activities: Middle and High 2
What would life be like without the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to petition?
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Societal Impacts of the American Revolution
A look at how the ideals of the American Revolution shaped the new American Republic. Many ideals were not implemented immediately but the seed had been planted.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Religion and Revolution
This essay discusses colonists who questioned the "Anglican establishment." It then explains how religion was used to convince colonists to support the war.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Equal Status of Jewish Americans
This 3-page article provides a general overview of George Washington recognizing the equal status of Jewish Americans in 1790.
Read Works
Read Works: Don't Know Much About Liberty
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in classifying and categorizing.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was adopted to protect each United States citizen's rights. Learn about how the Bill of Rights was formed and the protections it guarantees to Americans.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Free Exercise of Religion
Information about the Free Exercise Clause and general purpose laws which protect individuals from government interference in their religious affairs.
Association of Religion Data Archives
Association of Religion Data Archives: National Profiles: Religious Data
A huge collection of religious data sorted by countries around the world. Includes maps and data related to religious freedom, the religions practiced by citizens and more. You can search by country or region.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Landmark Court Cases
Landmark court cases regarding religious liberty throughout the history of the U.S.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Religious Liberty
Use these lesson extensions to help your students understand the historical context of American religious liberty.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Life Without the Bill of Rights?
This a click-and-explore activity that puts you in control and ask you to consider how life would change without some of our most cherished freedoms. Life Without the Bill of Rights? invites you to understand the significance of your...
Other
First Amendment Schools: Lesson Plans: Religious Liberty
A series of lessons examining freedom of religion. A few of the lessons are off-site and the links no longer work.
iCivics
I Civics: West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that it was unconstitutional for a state to force students to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Students learn how the interests of national unity and...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: The Trials of Mary Dyer (1659 & 1660)
Mary Dyer was on a spiritual quest to Boston, to Portsmouth, to Newport, and to the northwest coast of England, where she became an ardent member of a new religion - a Quaker, or a member of the Society of Friends. Determined to spread...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Trial of Anne Hutchinson (1637)
America was not always the "Land of Liberty." In the 1630s, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, questioning Puritan dogma could bring you a world of trouble. It could get you shunned, it could get you ex-communicated, it could even get you...
Digital History
Digital History: Religion and the u.s. Constitution
A very brief explanation of the three-pronged test the Supreme Court uses to determine the constitutionality of a governmental poiicy to ensure it doesn't advocate the establishing of religion.
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: The Pilgrim Fathers
This very brief entry tells about the discrimination against the Pilgrims in England. Click on links below the article for information about the Pilgrims in the New World.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Church and State Separation: Challenge and Debate (Lesson Plan)
Describes the elements of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment as it relates to the separation of church and state and freedom of religion. Speculates on the probable constitutional issues associated with the separation of church and...
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Whose God? (Lesson Plan in Religious Pluralism)
A lesson in analyzing historical documents on religious freedom and in assessing the historic impact of diverse religious groups on the United States. Students examine current separation-of-church-and-state issues and decide if diverse...
Other
Insight: Should There Be a Chaplain in Congress?
This site discusses the issue of whether having a chaplain in the Congress is contradictory to the First Amendment. It includes a discussion of the related Supreme Court case, Marsh vs. Chambers. (Published March 20, 2000)
Other
Swarthmore College: Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges
Read an excerpt of William Penn's Charter of Privileges- an early manifestation of religious freedom later to be enshrined in the U.S. Bill of Rights- that isolates the provisions Penn made for the free practice of religion in the colony.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
I Citizen Forum: Living Documents: Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Complete text, in multiple languge formats, of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.