The Constitution and the Idea of Compromise Why Celebrate Constitution Day? George Washington as Military Leader The Theory of the American Founding, Part 1: Why Government? The Theory of the American Founding, Part 2: Why Government by Consent? The Theory of the American Founding, Part 3: Why Equal Protection of the Law? George Washington and Religious Liberty George Washington and the Problem of Slavery George Washington and the Rule of Law George Washington and Civic Virtue Curriculum Developers

George Washington and Religious Liberty Overview This lesson discusses George Washington and the other Founders’ views of the role of religion and religious liberty in the American Founding. The reading examines liberty and the natural law, religion and the moral conditions of liberty, and the meaning of the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Discussion questions follow the reading. Objective Students will analyze historical evidence including primary sources to understand George Washington and the other Founders’ views of the role of religion and religious liberty in the American Founding. Standards National Council for the Social Studies: Thematic Strands I, II, V, VI, X Arizona Academic Standards, Social Studies: 1SS-E17, E18; 2SS-E3, E5, E7, E8, P1, P5, P8, P10 California History-Social Science Content Standards: 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4; 11.1; 12.1, 12.2 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills: Social Studies 8.1, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.16, 8.20, 8.21, 8.23, 8.26; U.S. Government 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16 Bibliography Richard Brookhiser, Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington (New York: The Free Press, 1996) James Thomas Flexner, Washington: The Indispensable Man (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1969) Daniel Palm, editor, On Faith and Free Government (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 1997) Thomas G. West, Vindicating the Founders (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 1997) Suggested Procedure: Ask students to name the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment (religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition). Read the religion section aloud: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” Ask students why they think the Founders thought this right was so important that they listed it first in the Bill of Rights. Explain that the Founders thought that in addition to protecting individual liberty, religion had a public or political purpose. Tell students that the lesson they are about to read will explain the role of religion and religious liberty in the American Founding. Ask students to think as they read about implications for America today. Distribute copies of the reading “George Washington and Religious Liberty.” Have students work individually or in groups to read the essay and complete the discussion questions. With the entire class, discuss the reading and the student responses to the questions. **As an extra exercise, print and distribute copies of Washington’s Proclamation of National Thanksgiving or have students read it online. Have students highlight or list the things from the second paragraph for which Washington said the people should give thanks. Copyright© 2002 The Claremont Institute. All rights reserved.