Church and State in America
Subtitle: The First Two Centuries (Cambridge Essential Histories)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: November 12, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 224
ISBN-13: 9780521683432
Subjects: American history; Church And Government; Religion And Politics; Religion; History - U.S.; Politics / Current Events; The Americas; Christianity - History - General; General; Religion, Politics & State; United States - General; History / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775); Christian Church - History; Christianity and politics; Church and state; History; United States
Description: This book describes American ideas about and policies toward the relationship between government and religion from the founding of Virginia in 1607 to the presidency of Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837. Four principles were paramount during this period: the importance of religion to the public welfare; the resulting obligation of government to support religion; liberty of conscience and voluntarism; the requirement that churches be supported by free will gifts, not taxation. The relevance of the concept of the separation of church and state during this period is examined in detail.