Religious Liberty Lesson 3

7/31/2019 Religious Liberty Lesson 3

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The Supreme Court, the First Amendment, and Belief

The curriculum, Religious

Liberty: The AmericanExperiment, including a

series of teacherprofessional development

programs around thecountry, was made

possible by generousdonations from the George

Washington Institute forReligious Freedom.


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Religious Liberty: The American Experiment

Lesson 3

From Toleration to Liberty:George Washington and

the Hebrew Congregationin Newport, Rhode Island

Objectives:

Understand the evolution of religiousliberty from the colonial period to

the Founding Era.Analyze George Washingtons 1790

letter to the Hebrew Congregationin Newport, Rhode Island.


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Mission Statement

Established in 1999, the Institute is a 501(c)(3) notfor profit charity focused on providing educationalresources on America's Founding documents and

principles for teachers and students of AmericanHistory and Civics. Our mission is to educateyoung people about the words and ideas of theFounders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding

documents, and how our Founding principlescontinue to affect and shape a free society.


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Components of Professional Development

Enhance our own knowledge

Explore new teachingstrategies

Enrich the expertise ofother teachers

There is no knowledge that is not power.~Ralph Waldo Emerson


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Important Definitions

Tolerance: refers to individualsrelationships and attitudes toward oneanother; capacity for or the practice ofrecognizing and respecting the beliefs or

practices of others.Toleration: government policy that permitsthe practice of certain religions; thepractice of religion is a privilege allowed

by government.Religious liberty: the idea that freedom ofconscience is an inalienable right not under

the legitimate control of government.


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Lesson Three

Religious Tolerationand Religious Liberty


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Which of these statements reflects the highest degree

of religious liberty?1. No person professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall from henceforth

be any waies troubledin respect of his or her religion

2. No subject shall be hurt, molested, for worshipping God in themanner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his ownconscience

3. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

4. All men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion,according to the dictates of conscience.

5. Not sure

Religious Liberty Pre-Assessment


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Religious Toleration and Religious Liberty

What is the difference betweenreligious toleration and religiousliberty?

How can people maintain thehighest degree of religious libertyin a free, ordered society?


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We have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort

which results from leaving everyone to profess freely andopenly those principles of religion which are the inductionsof his own reason and the serious convictions of his owninquiries.

Thomas Jefferson, Reply to Virginia Baptists, 1808 (p. 25)

...[M]aintaining respect for the religious observances ofothers is a fundamental civic virtue that governmentcanand should cultivateThe founders of our Republic knewthe fearsome potential of sectarian religious belief togenerate civil dissension and civil strife.

Justice Antonin Scalia, Dissenting Opinion, Lee v.Weisman (1992)

From Toleration to Liberty: George Washington


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Learning goals (p. 25)

Understand the evolution of religiousliberty from the colonial period to theFounding Era.

Assess legal and historical documentsas examples of toleration and/or liberty.

Analyze George Washingtons 1790letter to the Hebrew Congregation in

Newport, Rhode Island. Appreciate Washingtons letter as anearly and important example of the shiftfrom religious toleration to religious

liberty in America.

From Toleration to Liberty: Washingtons Letter

George Washington

By Gilbert Stuart, 1795


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Read Essay: From Establishment toFree Exercise: Religion, GeorgeWashington and the HebrewCongregation in Newport, Rhode

Island.


Touro Synagogue,Newport, RI;

Americas firstsynagogue; photoby D. B. King


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Work with a partner or two to complete Handout A:Defining Toleration and Liberty. Share results and developconsensus.


George Masonsdraft of Article 16of the VirginiaDeclaration ofRights (1776)

James Madisonsamendment toMasons draft

The delegates in Virginias legislatureapproved Madisons wording. How does thisamendment demonstrate an important shift in

thinking about religion and government?


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A.Continue to work with your partner(s) using

Handout B: Religion and Americas Past

Toleration, Liberty, or Both?

Discuss your assigned documentexcerpts and be ready to share your

paraphrase. How would you complete the table?

B. Report results. Note trends over time.


George Washingtonby Gilbert Stuart,

1797


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A. We need a volunteer!

Read aloud Handout C: Washingtons Letter to theHebrew Congregation at Newport, Rhode Island.

B. Work with a partner or two to discuss Handout D:

Document Guide.


George Washington,Gilbert Stuart, 1796


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Document D Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Keeping in mind that toleration refers to a governmentpolicy, was Washington correct that we have moved fromreligious toleration to religious liberty?

2. Is there any significance in the fact that Washington

closed his letter with a prayer?3. One historian has described Washingtons letter as

articulating the conscience of a nation with respect toreligious liberty. How would you assess that claim?Explain.

4. Religious conflict has been prevalent and bloodythroughout world history. Why do you think that, with afew exceptions, Americans of various faiths have beenable to live side by side in peace? Explain.



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How significant is it that this letter was written by asitting President? Would the letter have carried as much

(or more?) weight if it had been written by:

--A member of Congress?

--A government official who had not attended theConstitutional Convention?

--A private citizen?

Washington spoke of the role of the U.S. government ingiving persecution no assistance and bigotry nosanction. Do private citizens also have this responsibility

to each other? Explain.


What does Washington say about the distinction between tolerationand liberty in the American political experiment?

What civic values are required of citizens living in a religiouslydiverse society? (In addition to the ideas students generate, you may

suggest respect, consideration, and humility.)

From lesson

plan, p. 27Wrap-up


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Which of these statements reflects the highest degree

of religious liberty?1. No person professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall from henceforth

be any waies troubledin respect of his or her religion

2. No subject shall be hurt, molested, for worshipping God in themanner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his ownconscience

3. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

4. All men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion,according to the dictates of conscience.

5. Not sure

Religious Liberty Post-Assessment


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Religious Liberty Lesson 3