Does a public school policy permitting student-led, student-initiated prayers at football games violate the Establishment Clause? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2000.
Town of Greece v. Galloway (2013)
Did the Town of Greece’s practice of opening board meetings with a prayer violate the First Amendment? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2013.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: The Road to the First Amendment
James Madison worked hard to get the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom passed. His main opponent was Patrick Henry, who offered a counter bill. Henry delivered a series of speeches in favor of his bill. They were so powerful that they prompted Madison to write his “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” which met widespread approval and led to the Legislature passing the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
Women, Their Rights and Nothing Less: The First Amendment and the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Use this map to explore how the women’s suffrage movement — and the people who opposed it — tried to influence public opinion. Explore artifacts from billboards and cards to buttons and cartoons. You’ll uncover the wide array of tools and tactics each side used to spread its message, and you’ll see how geography and other factors shaped the form and content of their communication.
You Can’t Say That: In My Opinion
Apply what you learned about constitutional exceptions to the First Amendment by studying a modern situations. Be sure to summarize the facts of the situation and then present your opinion about whether the actions of the individual in the scenario were protected by the First Amendment. If you disagree with the court, school or law enforcement’s decision, be sure to explain why you disagree.
The Great Awakening
This short video examines the flurry of religious expression which spread throughout the colonies during the 1740’s and 1750’s. Led by individuals such as George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards, the Great Awakening cut across racial, class, and geographic barriers to create an incipient sense of nationalism. Professor Jeffry Morrison contends that the popular religiosity of this movement contributed directly to the popular constitutionalism of the 1770’s.
Religion in Colonial America
This short video examines impact of Reformed Christianity on the minds and hearts of the Framers of the Constitution. Influenced by the writings of John Locke, Algernon Sydney, and John Calvin, Founders such as George Washington and John Adams believed that religion should play an informal, though important, role in American Society. Professor Jeffry Morrison examines Adams’ contention that colonial fears of British bishops helped to inflame revolutionary sentiments.
Van Orden v. Perry (2005)
Does placement of the Ten Commandments on state property in Texas violate the Establishment Clause? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answers this question in 2005.
Zelman v. Simmons Harris (2002)
Is a Cleveland scholarship program that allows parents to opt to send their children to religious private schools unconstitutional? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2002.
Constitutional Index – Amendment 1 Establishing Clause
The Constitutional Index breaks down the U.S. Constitution by Section, Amendment, and Clause and contains broader topics and themes. These are used to cross-reference Library resources in an effort to annotate constitutional history.