American Republic: Religion and Virtue
Religion and virtue have been important cornerstones of America since its foundation. The Founding Fathers were well-versed in both religious and philosophical texts and were very deliberate in the structure of the new nation that they were attempting to form. The connection between religion and virtue shaped the culture, laws, and politics of the United States. In fact, the U.S. Constitution’s Preamble reflects the importance of morality when stating, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Religion in Early America
At the time of America’s Founding, the nation was largely composed of various Protestant denominations. The Puritans who arrived in Massachusetts sought to found a “city upon a hill” and establish a model Christian society that was based on biblical teachings and values. Many of the churches in the 13 American colonies provided important social institutions that served as the foundations of the country.
The first Great Awakening (1730s-1740s), a religious revival movement, spread across the colonies. This movement strengthened the association between religion and virtue in the public eye. While sometimes seen as a Protestant movement that weakened Catholicism in the colonies, it served to reinforce a sense of morality and spiritual discipline among the colonists.
Religion in the Post-Revolutionary Era
The religious fervor of the Revolution was often described from the point of view of Protestantism. This is perhaps most famously seen in the words of John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and former president of Princeton University, who declared: “Let it be known that these are the sentiments of every true American, and that he will support them to the last extremity.”
The passage of the First Amendment of the Constitution in 1791 ensured religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Despite this apparent distance between religious institutions and the government, the influence of religion in the United States was still significant. The nation’s first three presidents—George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson—all had strong religious convictions and beliefs. The Second Great Awakening (1800s-1840s), another religious revival movement, further strengthened the connection between religion and morality in American culture.
Religion and Politics
The influence of religion on American politics has varied over time. In the 19th century, Protestant Christianity was the dominant religious force in the nation. This led to deeply-held beliefs in manifest destiny, the idea that the United States was special, divinely ordained and morally justified in expanding Westward.
Despite this religious fervor and the associated feelings of national destiny, the nation’s religious diversity has also forced politicians to consider a breadth of opinions and beliefs when developing policy. Thus, religion has had a deep but often subtle impact on the formation of laws, regulations, and broader policy in the United States.
Religion and Morality
America was founded with the idea that the nation should be populated by people of “virtue and morality.” This notion of virtue was tied to a Protestant American identity and emphasized character traits such as piety, self-discipline, honesty, and courage. This emphasis on morality is often tied to the nation’s beliefs in democracy and liberty. Alexander Hamilton, one of the nation’s Founding Fathers, stated: “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice.”
The religious roots of American morality still exert a powerful influence over the beliefs and values of Americans today. A variety of religious denominations have helped to shape the morality and beliefs of the nation. Protestants still have a strong presence in the United States, although the population has become increasingly diverse with the increasing numbers of Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.
Religious Virtues in American Life
The religious aspects of the nation’s Founding Fathers have been instrumental in the creation of an American ethos of virtues. From the virtue of honesty to the respect of religious diversity, the Founding Fathers sought to instill these values in American life.
Virtues like compassion and service to others are critical values that help shape American culture. These principles help to create a culture of respect, mutual understanding, and tolerance. The same values can be seen in the nation’s desire for religious liberty and for the promotion of individual rights and freedoms.
The connection between religion and virtue has had a major influence on the formation of the United States. From its earliest beginnings in the 13 American colonies to its commitment to religious freedom today, these two cornerstones of the American Republic have forever shaped the nation’s culture, laws, and politics. Religion and virtue were two of the most important components of the nation’s Founding, and they still remain at the heart of the American experience.
