Religion and the founding: colonial diversity, the Great Awakening and religious freedom

Grade 12 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Constitution (1787) and First Amendment (1791)

   Who made it: the Constitutional Convention; the First Amendment was proposed by Congress and ratified by the states. When: 1787 and 1791. Where: Philadelphia and the states. For whom: the people of the United States. Why: to set rules for religion and the national government. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article VI, clause 3; as printed in 1840, p. 14): "…but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, under the United States." Line 2 (Constitution, First Amendment (1791), religion clauses; as printed in 1840, p. 15): "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…" Source card "What the clauses forbid". Who made it: historians and textbooks writing today. When: today. Where: the United States. For whom: readers today. Why: to sum up what is known. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Article VI, clause 3: no one may be required to pass a religious test to hold a national office. The establishment clause: Congress may not set up an official national church. The free exercise clause: Congress may not ban people's worship. At first these clauses limited only the national government; Massachusetts kept a tax-supported church until 1833. Source card "The founders' beliefs". Who made it: historians and textbooks writing today. When: today. Where: the United States. For whom: readers today. Why: to sum up what is known. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The founders held a range of beliefs. Many belonged to churches. Some, such as Jefferson and Franklin, were influenced by deism, the belief that a creator made the world but does not step into events. Historians debate how to describe several founders' beliefs. Below the cards: each summary card is in our words. A religious test is a required oath or statement of belief.

2. 1.

   In Tala's cards, which line bans religious tests for national office, and where is it?

   • Line 2, the First Amendment's religion clauses
   • Line 2, Article I
   • Line 1, Article VI, clause 3
   • Line 1, Article III
3. 2.

   Which line holds the establishment and free exercise clauses, Zee asks?

   • Neither line
   • Line 2, the First Amendment
   • Line 2, the Tenth Amendment
   • Line 1, Article VI, on religious tests
4. 3.

   What does the establishment clause forbid Congress to do, by the summary card, Ari asks?

   • Set up an official national church
   • Require oaths for jurors
   • Hold elections
   • Ban people's worship, which the free exercise clause forbids
5. 4.

   Whom did the religion clauses limit at first, by the summary card, Bo asks?

   • Founders
   • The state governments, such as Massachusetts
   • Churches
   • The national government
6. 5.

   In an example, a national office requires candidates to state a belief. Which line does that break, Esme asks?

   • Line 2's free exercise clause, on worship
   • The Tenth Amendment
   • Line 1, Article VI, clause 3
   • Neither line
7. 6.

   In an example, Congress passes a law naming one official church for the nation. Which clause does that break, Jun asks?

   • Neither clause
   • Article VI's ban on religious tests for office
   • The establishment clause
   • The free exercise clause
8. 7.

   In an example, Congress passes a law banning one group's worship. Which clause does that break, Kira asks?

   • The free exercise clause
   • The establishment clause, on official churches
   • Article VI, clause 3
   • Neither clause
9. 8.

   Luz reads the word deism. What does it mean, by the card?

   • An official church
   • A creator made the world but does not intervene
   • A test of belief required to hold a national office
   • A revival
10. 9.

    Why could Massachusetts keep a tax-supported church after 1791, Noah asks?

    • The First Amendment required each state to have one
    • The clauses limited only the national government
    • Article VI allowed it
    • Massachusetts was not a state
11. 10.

    Which sentence about the founders' beliefs is careful, by the card, Pia asks?

    • No founder belonged to a church
    • Historians agree on each founder's beliefs
    • They held a range of beliefs
    • Each founder shared one set of beliefs