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Continental Congress Appeals to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, October 26, 1774

Continental Congress Appeals to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, October 26, 1774

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Continental Congress October 26, 1774 Just five days after complaining that Britain, through the Quebec Act, was giving too much freedom to Canadian Catholics, the Continental Congress flip-flopped and issued this message to curry favor with the Catholics to the north. After cataloguing the many rights and privileges accorded colonists, the Congress asked, “What is offered to you by the late Act of Parliament in their place? Liberty of conscience in your religion? No. God gave it to you.” Friends…

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Northwest Ordinance, 1787

Northwest Ordinance, 1787

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Continental Congress July 13, 1787 This is the law that governed a huge swath of land. Though Congress deferred to the states on most matters, these were nationally-owned lands and therefore policy was set by the national Congress. It was the most significant effort by the pre-Constitution Congress to spell out views on religion and the state. The key provision was Article 1, which provided expansive religious freedom: “No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever…

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Continental Congress, Declaration and Resolves, October 14, 1774

Continental Congress, Declaration and Resolves, October 14, 1774

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Continental Congress October 14, 1774 In describing the colonies’ grievances, the Continental Congress cited the Quebec Act, which gave religious freedom to Catholics In Canada. Also the act passed in the same session for establishing the Roman Catholic religion, in the province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger (from so total a dissimilarity of religion, law and government) of the neighbouring British colonies, by the assistance of whose…

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Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

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Continental Congress November 1, 1777 During the War of Independence, the Continental Congress approved several proclamations of prayer. At this point, the proclamations were overtly Christian (“through the Merits of Jesus Christ”). This proclamation, like others, not only thanks for God’s support in the war but also asked for His forgiveness the Colonists “manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favour” from God. IN CONGRESS November 1, 1777 FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore…

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Congressional Prayer Proclamation, 1779

Congressional Prayer Proclamation, 1779

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Continental Congress March 20, 1779 With the war grinding on In to Its fourth year, this Congressional prayer proclamation evoked a somber tone about the “calamitous” war. They asked for Divine guidance to their commander In chief and asked God to be “be our Shield in the Day of Battle.” March 20, 1779 WHEREAS, in just Punishment of our manifold Transgressions, it hath pleased the Supreme Disposer of all Events to visit these United States with a calamitous War, through…

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Articles of Confederation, 1781

Articles of Confederation, 1781

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Continental Congress March 1, 1781 This is the charter that organized the new nation prior to the ratification of the Constitution. Note the final paragraph. While the Constitution that followed made no mention of God, the Articles of Confederation said that the passage of these act happened because “the Great Governor of the World” had guided the legislatures — Inclined “their hearts” — to support the union. To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the under signed Delegates…

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Charter of Connecticut, 1662

Charter of Connecticut, 1662

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Connecticut 1662   CHARLES the Second, by the Grace of GOD, KING of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Whereas by the several Navigations, Discoveries, and Successful Plantations of divers of Our loving Subjects of this Our Realm of England, several lands, Islands, Places, Colonies, and Plantations have been obtained and settled in that Part of the Continent of America called New-England, and thereby the Trade and…

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Charter of Carolina, 1665

Charter of Carolina, 1665

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Carolina June 30, 1665 CHARLES the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. WHEREAS, by our Letters Patents, bearing date the twenty-fourth day of March, in the fifteenth year of our reign, We were graciously pleased to grant unto our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon, our High Chancellor of England: our right trusty and entirely beloved Cousin and Counsellor George Duke of…

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The Articles of Association, Continental Congress, October 20, 1774

The Articles of Association, Continental Congress, October 20, 1774

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The Continental Congress October 20, 1774 In this declaration resolved to boycott British tea and launch several other acts of protest. Unlike the later Declaration of Independence, these articles (In the preamble) specifically cite the Quebec Act, which many patriots criticized for allowing religious freedom for Catholics In Quebec. They feared the Catholics would lead a charge against the Protestant colonies: “thus, by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices, to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against…

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Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, Declaration of Rights

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, Declaration of Rights

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January 1, 1776 This Pennsylvania Constitution grants broad religious freedoms to any citizen “who acknowledges the being of a God.” It also provides that conscientious objectors need not serve in the militia, a provision included to accommodate Quakers, who were highly influential in Pennsylvania. Article II. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understanding: And that no man ought or of right can be compelled…

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