Founding of America Essay

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"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."-James Madison. While it is a controversial statement to say whether or not America was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, I believe it’s an obvious one. The evidence is carved in marble all over Washington D.C. on our national monuments, all throughout our founding fathers personal correspondences, and even in our declaration and constitution. Majority of Americans were Christian in some form, whether it be Protestant or Catholics etc.
Many people argue the fact that our founding fathers were Christians. The 1797 Treaty of Tripoli is the foundation of their argument. The treaty states to the Muslim Barbary nations that "the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion", this is not an untrue statement since it is referring to the federal government. Another reason why some say it isn’t is because many are under the assumption that our founding fathers were deists and atheists. Another reason, Thomas Jefferson’s (January 1st, 1802) letter to the Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association speaks of separation of church and state. And lastly, the constitution doesn’t speak of Christianity in any form. On the surface it seems like were created on completely secular foundation, but think again.
My first point stands on the fact that our founding fathers were Christians, not only Christians but devout Christians. Did you know that 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention. (http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/declaration_of_independence.htm) The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a profoundly wise, religious and ethically-minded group. Four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were current or former full-time preachers. There were 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 at which the U.S. Constitution was drafted and signed, (http://anglo-reformed.org/religious-affiliation-of-founding-fathers-of) And 54 signers were Christian. Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, John Adams, and many more considered themselves Christian. All of these men, considered to be the fathers of America, were all Christian, for there beliefs not to influence their political choices and decisions would be preposterous. John Quincy Adams states, "The United States of America were no longer Colonies. They were an independent nation of Christians." What Alexander Hamilton says on his death bed: "I have tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty; through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I look to Him for mercy; pray for me." The original chief justice of the U.S Supreme Court belief that the Bible was the most important book is confirmed in his statement in a letter to his son Peter Augustus. The most important men at the most crucial time of development of America were mostly whole
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