Sarah Mitchell
The role of religion in the American Revolution is a highly debated topic. Religion played a significant role in justifying the revolution, with many Americans believing that God supported their opposition to British rule. The British, on the other hand, viewed the revolution as inspired by religious fanaticism. The revolution also impacted different Christian denominations, with some interpreting Romans 13 as a condemnation of overthrowing governments, while others believed civil disobedience was acceptable. The presence of Catholics during the revolution is also notable, with Maryland serving as a refuge for Catholics, and figures like Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, playing significant roles. However, Catholics also faced discrimination, with laws enacted against their settlement and participation in government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion's role in the American Revolution | Religion played a significant role in the American Revolution, providing moral justification for opposition to British rule and assurance that revolution was sanctioned by God. |
| Religious fanaticism | Some viewed the American Revolution as inspired by religious fanaticism, similar to what fueled Cromwell's establishment of the English Commonwealth. |
| Religious divisions | Divisions between Protestants and Catholics existed during the American Revolution, with anti-Catholic sentiments among colonists and discrimination against Catholics in some colonies. |
| Catholic aspirations | The American Revolution realised Catholic aspirations for religious freedom and equality, as exemplified by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. |
| Religious tolerance | Some colonies, like Rhode Island, were accepting of Catholics and Jewish communities, while others, like New York, had a history of anti-Catholicism. |
| Biblical interpretation | Interpretations of Romans 13 and Hebrews 11 influenced views on civil disobedience and the role of government, with some arguing the Founding Fathers followed biblical principles. |
| Clergy involvement | Some Anglican priests relinquished their positions during the war due to conflicts of allegiance, while others supported the British, like Jonathan Odell, who satirised Patriots and fellow Anglican ministers supporting independence. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics faced discrimination in the colonies
The history of Catholics in the American colonies is a complex and often painful one, marked by persecution and discrimination. The religious persecution that drove settlers from Europe to the British North American colonies was driven by the conviction that uniformity of religion was necessary in society. This conviction was held by both Protestants and Catholics, who believed that it was the duty of civil authorities to impose the "one true religion" on all citizens, even if it meant using force. Those who did not conform to the majority religious group in a given area could be punished or even executed as heretics. As a result, many Catholics fled religious persecution in Europe, seeking refuge in the American colonies.
However, the American colonies themselves were not immune to religious discrimination. In some cases, Catholics persecuted Protestants, while in other instances, Protestants turned on Catholics. This dynamic played out in the American colonies, leading to persecution and discrimination against Catholics. For example, the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal benefit society founded in 1882, faced suspicion and hostility from non-Catholic Americans. When the Ku Klux Klan rose to prominence in the 1920s, Catholics were among their targets, along with Blacks and Jews.
Additionally, the Catholic Church in the United States has had to grapple with the legacy of racism and discrimination against African American Catholics. Well into the 20th century, Jim Crow laws and discriminatory practices within the Church itself persisted, particularly in the South. Parishes were often segregated, with separate Mass times or even separate physical churches for white and Black parishioners. Even in integrated parishes, African Americans were sometimes forced to sit at the back of the church and receive Communion after white congregants.
Despite these challenges, the history of Catholics in the American colonies is also a story of resilience and perseverance. Organizations like the Knights of Columbus and the National Black Catholic Congress, which first gathered in 1889, worked to advance racial equality and support various parish, diocesan, and community objectives. Individuals like Father Augustus Tolton, who became the first publicly known Black Catholic priest in 1886, overcame significant obstacles and discrimination to serve the Lord and advance racial equality within the Church.
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Catholics were a minority in Maryland
Maryland was envisioned as a haven for persecuted Catholics in the New World. In 1632, Cecilius Calvert, known as Lord Baltimore, was granted possession of all land between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore saw this as an opportunity to grant religious freedom to Catholics who remained in Anglican England and hoped to turn a financial profit from the venture. Maryland was first settled in 1634 and was named after England's Catholic queen Henrietta Maria.
However, most immigrants to Maryland were individuals rather than families, and the first inhabitants were a mixture of country gentlemen (mostly Catholic) and workers and artisans (mostly Protestant). This demographic imbalance meant that Catholics soon found themselves in the minority. The geography of Maryland was conducive to growing tobacco, and the desire for profits from tobacco cultivation led to a need for low-cost labour, resulting in an influx of indentured servants and a change in the social structure of Maryland.
To protect the rights of Catholics in the region, the Maryland Act of Toleration was passed in 1649, granting religious freedom to all Christians. However, within a decade, Protestants swept the Catholics out of the legislature, and religious strife ensued. The Act of Toleration was struck down in 1654, and religious minorities such as Catholics, Jews, Quakers, Atheists, and dissenters were subjected to oppressive disabilities.
Despite the challenges faced by Catholics in Maryland, the Act of Toleration is considered an important part of the colonial legacy of religious freedom, culminating in the First Amendment in the American Bill of Rights.
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Catholics held positions of power in the revolution
Catholics played a significant role in the American Revolution, holding various positions of power and influence. Despite making up only 1.2% of the 2.5 million white population of the thirteen seaboard colonies, Catholics had a notable impact on the Revolution.
One of the most prominent Catholic figures during this period was Charles Carroll, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and one of the richest men in the colonies. Carroll owned sixty thousand acres of land, and his Catholicism was integral to his career. He was dedicated to American Republicanism but feared extreme democracy. Another Catholic, John Carroll, played a crucial role in organising the Catholic Church in America after the Revolutionary War. He led several meetings of the clergy, known as the General Chapters, to establish the Church's presence in the newly formed nation.
Catholics also held positions in the Continental Congress, the body that helped frame the new United States Constitution. Daniel Carroll and Thomas Fitzsimons, both Catholics, were members of this Congress in 1787. Their contributions helped shape the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed freedom of religion for all American citizens and began the process of repealing anti-Catholic laws across the new states.
Additionally, several foreign Catholic officers served in the American army or with French allies, contributing significantly to the Revolution's success. Notable figures include Count Marquis de Lafayette, Casimir Pulaski, De Grasse, and Bernardo de Galvez, the Governor of Louisiana. De Galvez, in particular, played a crucial role in preventing the British from seizing Louisiana and gaining a foothold on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
The American Revolution also saw the emergence of "fighting parsons," clergymen who took up arms and led Continental troops in battle. An example is Peter Muhlenberg, who, during a sermon in 1776, removed his clerical robes to reveal the uniform of a Virginia militia officer. Jonathan Mayhew, a clergyman, delivered a influential sermon asserting that resistance to a tyrant was a "glorious" Christian duty, providing moral sanction for the revolution.
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Religion's role in the revolution
Religion played a significant role in the American Revolution, influencing the ideals and motivations of the colonists and offering moral justification for their opposition to British rule. Many settlers had come to the North American colonies seeking religious freedom, and religion was intertwined with the destiny of the nation. The Puritan ethic, for example, provided the basis for the belief that the colonies had a special role in God's plan, as a "City upon a Hill". This idea was also reflected in the evangelical revivals of the mid-eighteenth century, which contributed to a shift in religious sentiments that would underpin the Revolution.
John Adams, the second President of the United States, recognised this, stating:
> "The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligation. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American revolution."
The Founders of the United States had long petitioned the British King to cease his unlawful and unbiblical actions against the colonials. When their grievances were ignored and King George III sent troops to suppress the colonies, the Founders believed they were acting in self-defence, which they considered biblically acceptable. This belief in divine sanction for their cause was a powerful motivator for the average American, assuring them that revolution was justified in the sight of God.
The American Revolution also had a significant impact on the religious landscape of the newly independent nation. The division between those who supported the Crown and those who supported independence caused a rift in the Anglican Church, with some Anglican priests relinquishing their pulpits and others putting their loyalty to the Crown at the service of the British forces. This led to the establishment of an independent American church, the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. The Methodists and Presbyterians also formed their own distinct churches, further shaping the religious character of the new nation.
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The British view of the revolution
The British perspective on the American Revolution was complex and varied among different segments of society. Some British people viewed the American Revolution with anxiety and foreboding, fearing that it could lead to a civil war between Great Britain and its colonies. Merchants, in particular, had significant economic concerns as the conflict disrupted trade. A group of merchants from Bristol, England, wrote to King George III in 1775, expressing their worries about the growing distractions in America and appealing to the monarch to prevent a "lasting and ruinous Civil War."
On the other hand, some members of the British working class saw the American Revolution in a more positive light. They believed it could usher in a new era of reform and address their feelings of disenfranchisement. The British monarchy and Parliament, however, responded to the revolution with a hardening resolve, as exemplified by King George III's decision to send 25,000 troops into the colonies to suppress the rebellion through property seizures, home invasions, and imprisonment without trials.
The religious aspect of the American Revolution also played a role in shaping the British perspective. Some British people, including Anglican priests like Jonathan Odell, satirized the revolution as being inspired by religious fanaticism similar to that which had fueled Oliver Cromwell's establishment of the Commonwealth of England over a century earlier. Odell, a rector in New Jersey, became a confidant of Benedict Arnold and used his pen to scourge the Patriots and other Anglican ministers who supported the American cause.
The outbreak of war in 1775 forced many people in the British North American colonies to choose sides, even if they preferred to remain neutral. Some colonists were torn between their discontent with British policies and their desire to maintain the benefits of being British subjects. Additionally, the conflict between Revolutionaries and Loyalists sometimes led to the confiscation of property and repercussions for those suspected of sympathizing with the opposing side, making it difficult for individuals and families to stay neutral.
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Frequently asked questions
Religion played a significant role in the American Revolution, providing moral justification for the revolution and opposition to British rule. The average American believed that revolution was justified in the eyes of God.
Protestants were not unified during the revolution. While some Protestants supported the revolution, others, like the Anglican priests, relinquished their pulpits due to their allegiance to King George III.
Catholics were a minority during the American Revolution, and they faced discrimination and disenfranchisement. However, there were notable Catholic figures, like Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who played a role in the revolution and helped craft Maryland's constitution.
It is debated whether the American Revolution violated New Testament principles. Some argue that the Founding Fathers did not violate these principles and that the nation was founded under God's guiding hand. Others believe that certain Bible passages suggest that civil disobedience is acceptable.
The British viewed the American Revolution as inspired by religious fanaticism, similar to what fueled Oliver Cromwell's establishment of the Commonwealth of England.
