America’s Christian Foundation

David Barton

www.wallbuilders.com

Declaration of Independence

In Congress, July 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Alexis de TocquevilleDemocracy in America, 1835

The Alexis de Tocqueville TourExploring Democracy in AmericaMay 9, 1997 - February 20, 1998

“Religion in American takes no direct part in the government of society, but it must be regarded as the first of their political institutions; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. Indeed, it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief. I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion for who can search the human heart?— but I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or to a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society.”

American Exceptionalism

The Alexis de Tocqueville TourExploring Democracy in AmericaMay 9, 1997 - February 20, 1998

“The comparisons of our government with those of Europe are like the comparisons of heaven and hell.” – Thomas Jefferson

American Exceptionalism

“The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests.” – Andrew Jackson

America’s Founders

Rev. Charles ChaunceyRev . Dr. Jonathon

Mayhew

Revolutionary InfluencesAsk the Founders

Rev. Dr . Samuel Cooper

Rev. George Whitfield

Revolutionary InfluencesAsk the Founders

John Moran

Lemuel Haynes

Rev. Absalom Jones

Rev. Richard Allen

Revolutionary HeroesMissing History

Paul Revere

Wentworth Cheswell

As the town messenger on the Committee of Safety during the Revolution, he too, had made an all-night ride back from Boston to warn his community of the impending British invasion.

The legacy of Wentworth Cheswell is a lasting one: a patriot, teacher, and church leader; an historian, archeologist, and educator; a judge and official elected to numerous offices (he is considered the first black American elected to office in America).

Revolutionary HeroesMissing History

Peter Salem

Prince Whipple Oliver

Cromwell

Revolutionary HeroesMissing History

James Armistead

1st Double Agent of the American Revolution

Declaration of Independence27 Reasons for Separation

• Taxation without Representation is #17

Every concept in the Declaration of Independence was first preached for 20 years in the pulpits of America prior to 1763.

“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.”

Records of the First Congress1774

• Opening session began with a 3 hour time of prayer and Bible Study.

• They studied 4 chapters that morning including – Psalm 35

• They appointed a Continental Fast.

• A few months later a call for Prayer of Thanksgiving.

•The first of 15 Congressional Prayer Proclamations.

• Results:

The Gun Boat PhiladelphiaAmerican Revolutionary Navy

Records of the First Congress1774

•Results:

“It appears to me that the Son of God is operating powerfully against the British.” – [John Adams to his wife Abigail]

“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel who has not faith and more than wicked that hath not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.” – George Washington

Laws of Great BritainBible printing

• Prevented the printing of any Bible in the English language

• The first Bible printed in English in America was printed by the Congress of the United States

• “A neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of our schools”

• Old Deluder Satan Act – law to establish public schools in America

“It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures…and Learning may not be buried in the graves of our fore-fathers…”

For 320 years the Bible was the basis for public education in America until 1963.

Treaty of ParisSeptember 3, 1783

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.“It as clearly can be said the general principals on which the fathers achieved independence are the general principals of Christianity.” – John Adams

Founding Fathers

Thomas JeffersonBenjamin

Franklin

Richard Henry Lee

Samuel Adams

George ClintonCharle

s Carroll

Robert

Morris

Benjamin Rush

Stephen

Hopkins

William

Williams

Elbridge GerryRobert Treat Paine

56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

How many do you know?

Founding Fathers56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

How well do you know them?

• 29 of them had seminary degrees

John WitherspoonPresident of PrincetonAmerican Evangelist

Charles ThomsonTheologianThomson’s Bible

Dr. Benjamin RushStarted 5 universitiesFather of public schools1st faith-based Prison movementFounded 1st Abolitionist Society in AmericaCo-Founder of A.M.E. DenominationFather of American MedicineFounder of Sunday School Movement in AmericaInvented Stereotyped printing for the Bible

Founding Fathers56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

How well do you know them?

Francis HopkinsonDesigned American flagChoir Master & OrganistComposed America’s 1st hymnbookAppointed Judge by George Washington

Samuel AdamsFather of the American RevolutionGovernor of Massachusetts

Roger ShermanSigned all 4 founding

documentsMaster Builder of the

ConstitutionJudge, Mayor, Surveyor,

Theologian

Founding Fathers56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

How well do you know them?

Charles CarrollJohn Adams George Washington

Abigail Adams

George WashingtonFarewell Address

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Matthias BurnettAn Election Sermon

"Consider well the important trust...which God...[has] put into your hands...To God and posterity you are accountable for [your rights and your rulers]...Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which your fathers delivered to you...look well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust...”

American StewardshipPreserve the Foundations in Public Life

“Occupy till I come.” – Jesus [Luke 19:13]

ResourcesPreserve the Foundations in Public Life

www.wallbuilders.comwww.quiz-tree.com/Declaration-of-Independence-Trumbull.html www.ushistory.orgwww.heritagecs.comLives of the Signers of the Declaration of IndependenceSetting the Record Straight: American History in Black & WhiteAmerica’s Godly Heritage www.intouch.org