Religious Influences on Colonization

Puritans Establish Massachusetts Bay Colony

Sep 1, 1630

Free Exercise added to First Amendment

Sep 25, 1791

John Brown's Raid on Harper Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown was one of the main causes of the civil war, as he believed that slaves should be free

Religous Revival in Army Camps

Jan 1, 1863

During the Civil War, revivals occurred en masse in army camps

Reynolds vs. United States

Sep 25, 1878

Goverment says they can enforce laws on religous practices, but not beliefs

Cantwell vs. Connecticut

Sep 25, 1940

Government cannot unduly infringe on religious exercise, but can stop it for safety reasons

Governments Reinstates Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Sep 25, 1993

State RFRA's

Sep 25, 1997

Congress can only apply RFRA's to federal laws, not state or local laws

Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby

Jun 30, 2014

Supreme Court rules that Hobby Lobby doesn't have to pay for their female employees' contraceptives because it goes against the family owned business's religous beliefs

EEOC vs. Abercrombie

Jun 1, 2015

Supreme Court rules against Abercrombie (8-1) that they must accomodate employees who's religous beliefs require them to wear a headress