PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Anniversary of September 11 Highlights Attitude Toward Islam
Two controversies surround an anniversary of the September 11 attacks: plans to burn a Koran and plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero. These instances can serve as examples in the debate over religious freedom and religious tolerance...
Other
Architect of the Capitol: Roger Williams
This site from the Architect of the Capitol provides a very brief biographical sketch of Roger Williams, plus a photo of a statue of him that stands in the National Statuary Hall.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Thomas Jefferson, Son of Virginia
Excerpted from the Colonial Williamsburg Journal, this essay offers details of Thomas Jefferson's life and his long and varied career.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Equal Status of Jewish Americans
This 3-page article provides a general overview of George Washington recognizing the equal status of Jewish Americans in 1790.
Read Works
Read Works: Colonization & Revolutionary War: Background to the Colonies
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the thirteen original colonies. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Pioneer Story: The Mormon Pioneer Trail
This site has everything you need to know about the Mormon Pioneer Trail. Read about the stops along the 1,300-mile trail from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Great Salt Lake Valley and get personal accounts of what happened to the Mormons on...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Free Exercise of Religion
Information about the Free Exercise Clause and general purpose laws which protect individuals from government interference in their religious affairs.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Southern Colonies: Maryland the Catholic Experiment
What began as a place of refuge for Catholics who were discriminated against in England, the colony of Maryland soon suffered religious strife even after the passage of the Toleration Act of 1649. Find out what caused the strife and why...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Middle Colonies: Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
A good look at the philosophy of the Quakers who colonized William Penn's religious refuge in the colony of Pennsylvania. Read about Penn's liberal views about government, religious freedom, and relations with Native Americans.
University of Victoria (Canada)
University of Victoria: The Puritans and the Parliament
This resource provides a brief description of the political battles waged in the English Parliament between the monarchy and the Puritans. Discussion begins with the reign of Elizabeth I and continues through to that of Charles I.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Argument, Bias, and Persuasion
Collection of 43 Grade-Leveled texts (6-12)on the topic Argument, Bias, and Persuasion. Have students track arguments through texts as they examine logical reasoning, bias, and persuasive techniques such as emotional appeals, character...
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: John Winthrop and the Puritans
Eighth graders will analyze the nine reasons Puritans had for immigrating to New England and discuss the meaning of John Winthrop's message to the Puritans.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Land Is Settled
A brief look at the founding of the English colonies. This site is provided for by the University of Groningen.
Digital History
Digital History: Creating New State Governments
See how state constitutions were the incubator of ideas that eventually became embodied in the U.S. Constitution.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Church and State Separation: Challenge and Debate (Lesson Plan)
Describes the elements of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment as it relates to the separation of church and state and freedom of religion. Speculates on the probable constitutional issues associated with the separation of church and...
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Whose God? (Lesson Plan in Religious Pluralism)
A lesson in analyzing historical documents on religious freedom and in assessing the historic impact of diverse religious groups on the United States. Students examine current separation-of-church-and-state issues and decide if diverse...
Other
Rwfa: Roger Williams, a Brief Biography
Site built and maintained by descendants of Roger Williams. It contains lots of interesting facts about the founder of Providence, Rhode Island, and describes how his views on religion shaped the early US government.
Open Library of the Internet Archive
Open Library: Pierre and His Family, Or, a Story of the Waldenses
This ebook version of Grierson Miss.'s Pierre and his Family, or, A Story of the Waldenses has been made available in multiple formats by the Open Library. Editions of the full novel, organized by year of publication, may be accessed here.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
I Citizen Forum: Living Documents: Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Complete text, in multiple languge formats, of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Mary Barret Dyer
Inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame in 2000, Mary Barret Dyer was hung in 1660 for preaching Quakerism.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Anne Hutchinson
The National Women's Hall of Fame honors Anne Hutchinson for her early advocation for religious freedom in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: New England Colonies: Dissent in Massachusetts Bay
The Puritan clergy in Massachusetts Bay colony did not allow religious dissent. Read about the fate of colonists Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams who believed in religious freedom.
Curated OER
A Defense of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande
This site from the Library of Congress is an essay describing the state responses to religion after independence was declared.