Secularization in the United States, 1776 to 1801
by Bissonnette, Lawrence Mark, M.A., CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS, 2008, 247 pages; 1461556

Abstract:

The United States became demonstrably more secular during the period from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 until 1801. An analysis of the religious content of the constitutional documents in effect during this period reveals a general trend, at both the state and federal level, away from the religious and spiritual, and toward the secular. This change is discernible in the handful of states that altered their constitutional documents during the period, but is most notable in contrasting the content of the state documents with the far more secular federal documents, particularly the United States Constitution. The driving force for this secularization was the Natural Law contract theory of individual rights which logically dictated that government had no role in religious matters.

 
AdviserAlexander I. Burckin
SchoolCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS
SourceMAI/ 47-03, p. , Mar 2009
Source TypeThesis
SubjectsReligious history; American studies; American history
Publication Number1461556
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