Religion


 * __Amendment One: Freedom of Religion-__** Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.


 * __Analysis:__**

A long time ago, people were in search of that one place. That one place where they were not forced to believe in a certain religion, and they could have religious freedom. In search of that place, people sailed to the land that is now America, trying to spread their religion throughout the colonies. Everything was working out great until the British soldiers cae over here trying to take us over, forcing us into a certain religion. This really upset the colonists! This upset them so much, it led up to the Revolutionary War.

After the American colonoists came out on top, Congress came up with their own rules for our country. One of their top priorities was to make sure that Americans would get their religious freedom. Well what do you know! All the way at the top of the list of the Bill of Rights, is the first amendment, freedom of religion.

In Santa Fe, Texas, students would select a student representative to give a pre-game prayer over the PA system before the start of the football games. Some students thought that this was unnecessary and an endorsement of religion. The schools arguement was that it has been a tradition and that it was a student praying and not a teacher, so this would make it student speech and not teacher-speech. Following the ruling, the court ruled that it was a violation because they believed it communticated a government religios endosement, meaning that the student was saying a prayer from his religion and was stating that prayer in front of thousnads of people. In the end, it was found unconstitutional.
 * __[[image:usc.jpg width="121" height="118"]]Santa Fe Independent School v. Doe (2000)__**

That first amendment is great, isn't it? We just get to be free! If you decide you want to choose a certain religion, you have the freedom to do so! This used to be an issue to us, but now i don't have to worry about it!
 * __Real World Connections/ How does this apply to our life today__**


 * __Sources__**

http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=489

http://school.nettrekker.com/isearch/frame/index.epl?image_id=160727000012

http://www.sports-central.org/photos/usc.jpg

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