religious liberty lesson 4

7/31/2019 Religious Liberty Lesson 4

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The Supreme Court, the First Amendment, and Belief

The curriculum, Religious

Liberty: The AmericanExperiment, including a

series of teacherprofessional development

programs around thecountry, was made

possible by generousdonations from the George

Washington Institute forReligious Freedom.


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Religious Liberty: The American Experiment

Lesson 4

First Amendment Principlesand Jeffersons Wall

Objectives:

Examine historical controversiesinvolving First Amendment

principles.

Assess the Supreme Courts use of the

wall of separation metaphor.


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Mission Statement

Established in 1999, the Institute is a 501(c)(3) notfor profit charity focused on providing educationalresources on America's Founding documents and

principles for teachers and students of AmericanHistory and Civics. Our mission is to educateyoung people about the words and ideas of theFounders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding

documents, and how our Founding principlescontinue to affect and shape a free society.


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Components of Professional Development

Enhance our own knowledge

Explore new teachingstrategies

Enrich the expertise ofother teachers

There is no knowledge that is not power.~Ralph Waldo Emerson


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Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts &Literacy in History/Social Studies

8. Delineate and evaluate the reasoning inseminal U.S. texts, including the applicationof constitutional principles and use of legal

reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Courtmajority opinions and dissents) and thepremises, purposes, and arguments inworks of public advocacy (e.g., TheFederalist, presidential addresses).


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Important Definitions

Tolerance: refers to individualsrelationships and attitudes toward oneanother; capacity for or the practice ofrecognizing and respecting the beliefs or

practices of others.Toleration: government policy that permitsthe practice of certain religions; thepractice of religion is a privilege allowed

by government.Religious liberty: the idea that freedom ofconscience is an inalienable right not under

the legitimate control of government.


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Lesson Four

First Amendment Principles andJeffersons Wall


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How did the phrase a wall of separation between

church and state become part of our national dialogueabout religious liberty?

1. It came from Magna Carta.

2. It came from the Bill of Rights.

3. It came from a letter from George Washington.

4. It came from a letter from Thomas Jefferson

5. Not sure

Religious Liberty Pre- Assessment


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I am for freedom of religion, and against allmaneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy ofone sect over another. --Thomas Jefferson, 1799

Lesson 4: First Amendment Principles andJeffersons Wall

. . . the individuals freedom to choose his owncreed is the counterpart of his right to refrain

from accepting the creed established by themajority. Justice John Paul Stevens, 1985

Thomas JeffersonCharles Willson Peale,

1791


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Learning Goals

Understand how the Supreme Courtsinterpretation of the First Amendmentchanged in light of the FourteenthAmendment

Analyze Thomas Jeffersons letter tothe Danbury Baptists

Evaluate the Supreme Courts

application ofJeffersons metaphor Assess the usefulness of the wall ofseparation metaphor in determiningthe constitutionality of state action with

respect to religion.

First Amendment Principles and Jeffersons Wall

Jeffersons handwrittendraft, Jan. 1, 1802

(Library of Congress)


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Read Essay: FirstAmendmentPrinciples and

Jeffersons Wall.


Civil Government cannot let any group

ride roughshod over others simplybecause their consciences tell them todo so. - Justice Robert H. Jackson, 1943.


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Wall ofSeparation

between

Church andState

Congress shallmake no lawrespecting an

establishmentof religion

What are some advantages anddisadvantages of metaphors?

Work with a partner or two toanalyze both letters in Handout A:Danbury Baptists letter to Jeffersonand Jeffersons reply.


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Did anything in either letter surprise

you?

What are some reasons that ThomasJeffersons letter to the Danbury Baptists

should be considered an authoritativesource on the meaning of the FirstAmendment?

What are some reasons it should notbe considered an authoritative source?

How should citizens, lawmakers, andjudges approach the task of understandingthe First Amendment?


Fromlessonplan, p. 39Wrap-up


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How did the phrase a wall of separation between

church and state become part of our national dialogueabout religious liberty?

1. It came from Magna Carta.

2. It came from the Bill of Rights.

3. It came from a letter from George Washington.

4. It came from a letter from Thomas Jefferson

5. Not sure

Religious Liberty Post Assessment


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Educating Young People about the Constitution

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

We WantYOU

To use ourcurriculum

To let us know howthese resources work

in your classroom

To pilot or evaluate

our curriculum

religious liberty lesson 4

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