American Heritage Series

Church, State, & the Real 1st Amendment: Part 1 (1x9)

: 01, 2009

In present-day politics and government, the term “separation of church and state” is regularly used to prohibit expressions of religious faith in the public arena. However, for a century and a half after the Constitution was written, that phrase meant exactly the opposite – it was used to preserve religious expressions in the public square. What was the origin of this now infamous phrase? When and how did its meaning change? Learn the history of this phrase and how its original meaning has been replaced with a completely secular one never intended by the author of the phrase. Discover not only the original story of this phrase, but also the founding fathers’ own words and actions concerning it in the American Heritage Series. America: this is your heritage!