Roger Williams argued for a separation of church and state in the 17th century, believing that government and religion should remain separate. He was exiled for his ideals but went on to found Rhode Island based on principles of religious freedom. His writings inspired figures like Jefferson and Madison, and the First Amendment enshrines separation of church and state by prohibiting the establishment of an official state religion. However, some laws today that promote specific religious values over others have been challenged as unconstitutional. There continues to be debate around how strictly to interpret the separation of church and state.

1. Separation of Church and
State
Samantha Ballard

2. The History Behind the Principle of
Separation of Church and State
• Roger Williams was an English clergyman and a scholar.
• Williams argued that government and God should be kept
completely separate.
• Williams was exiled for his ideals and purchased land
from Native Americans, which later became Rhode Island.
• In 1644, he wrote a four hundred page book about his hopes
for a limited government and religious freedom.
• Roger William’s book was read by and inspired men like,
John Milton, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison and other writers of the Constitution.

3. The First Amendment of the Constitution
• states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances”.
• People mistakenly believe that since the
Constitution does not contain the phrase
“separation of church and state”, that
right is not protected by the Constitution.

4. Unconstitutional Laws All Around Us
• Same-sex marriages are banned in many states because
the Bible says it is an abomination.
• The theory of Intelligent Design being taught in schools
instead of Evolution.
• The Pledge of Allegiance has the phrase “Under God” in
it.
• Charter (public) schools that are funded with
government money teaching religion.

5. The Battle
• There is a battle going on in court rooms all around the U.S.
• One group wants the United States to be a “Christian nation”, and
to honor the values the Bible teaches.
• The other group, mainly atheists, wants the United States to be
unbiased and protect the rights of all.

6. Fight For Rights
• The Constitution was written
to protect the rights of all
people.
• But many laws have been
written and put into power
than strip people of their most
basic of rights.
• The Constitution has to be
enforced the way the
forefathers intended it to be.