Changes

American military, economic, cultural, and political influence increased through the 19th and 20th centuries. Since the mid-20th century, the United States has become a dominant global influence in contemporary economic, political, military, scientific, technological and cultural matters. With the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] at the end of the [[Cold War]], the nation emerged as the world's sole remaining superpower, greatly influencing world affairs, as it continues to do today.

American military, economic, cultural, and political influence increased through the 19th and 20th centuries. Since the mid-20th century, the United States has become a dominant global influence in contemporary economic, political, military, scientific, technological and cultural matters. With the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] at the end of the [[Cold War]], the nation emerged as the world's sole remaining superpower, greatly influencing world affairs, as it continues to do today.

==Background - GOD,  The Constitution, and Political Parties==

==Background - The Politics and Constitution of the United States, and the Role of Religion in Government==

[[Image:76485685i79.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The drafting committee presenting the [[Declaration of Independence]] to the [[Continental Congress]], painted by John Trumbull 1817–1819.]]

[[Image:76485685i79.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The drafting committee presenting the [[Declaration of Independence]] to the [[Continental Congress]], painted by John Trumbull 1817–1819.]]

[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

[[George Washington]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and the other [[Founding Fathers]] formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

Since 1788, the United States has had ONLY ONE official governing document:  the [[U.S. Constitution]].  

Since 1788, the United States has had one official governing document:  the [[U.S. Constitution]]. All previous documents were superceded by the adoption of the US Constitution.

All previous documents are mere historical reference material.

Although officially a [[Republic]], since the Presidency of [[John Quincy Adams]],  the United States has been governed by two or more[[political parties]] under the rules of a "Representative [[Democracy]]."  Presently, the two major political parties are the [[Democratic Party]], and the Republican Party.  The younger of the two parties, the [[Republican Party]], was created in 1854.

Although officially a [[Republic]],  since the Presidency of [[John Quincy Adams]], the United States has been governed by two [[political parties]] under the rules of a "Representative [[Democracy]]." Those two major political parties are the [[Democrat Party]], and the Republican Party.  The younger of the two parties, the [[Republican Party]], was created in 1854.

A contentious issue in modern politics is the role of religion in public life and particularly government entanglement in religious affairs.  Some groups that self identify as Republican, or in some cases Dominionist, argue that the US was founded on Christian principles and that the modern US Government should be more lenient with regards to entanglement of Christianity with politics.  Others that self identify as Democrat or Libertarian argue that the Constitution is a secular document which prohibits the entanglement of religion and politics in any way. Though these divisions are on general level and a particular stance on this issue is not a prerequisite to being a member of either party.  

 

In American political life.  The relationship between GOD and GOVERNMENT is the prime characteristic differentiating the various political parties.

    

    

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a GOD when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's GOD" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted at the request of [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were more Unitarianism / Christian.

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a God when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted at the request of [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were [[Deism|Deistic]].

It is established fact that most early Americans came there for Religious Freedom.  The American [[Founding Fathers]] called themselves Christians, and acted as though the United States was founded upon the principles and ideals of Christianity.

Most early Americans emigrated to avoid religious persecution in their home countries.  The American [[Founding Fathers]] adhered to various sects of Christianity ranging from Deism to Protestantism, and recognized that Judeo-Christian tradition in addition to other legal traditions should inform the Constitution.

Despite their own beliefs however, the [[Founding Fathers]] specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] a statement that the government cannot interfere in the conduct of religious groups, and grants "Freedom of Religion" for all faiths. That statement is often referred to as the "Free Exercise Clause."

Despite their own beliefs however, the [[Founding Fathers]] specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  The first clause is referred to as the Establishment Clause, and the second the Free Exercise Clause.

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the United States.   

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the United States.   

The various differences and contradictions between the founding documents such as the "[[Declaration of Independence]]", the "[[U.S. Constitution]]", the "[[Federalist Papers]]", and the many personal papers of the [[Founding Fathers]] has not helped to resolve the issue.

The various differences and contradictions between the founding documents such as the "[[Declaration of Independence]]", the "[[U.S. Constitution]]", the "[[Federalist Papers]]", and the many personal papers of the [[Founding Fathers]] has not helped to resolve the issue as there are different and often contradicting statements regarding the proper influence of religion on government.

 

This is important to understand, as in recent decades,  the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has re-interpreted this clause to represent an actual, "physical separation" of Religion from Government.  This "separation of Church and State" interpretation has become a continuing source of conflict in American society.  

In America today,  what political party you join is often determined by your personal view of the relationship between "GOD and GOVERNMENT."     All other lesser social issues,  whether they be Abortion,  Euthanasia,  Freedom of Speech, Cloning, etc.  are all subserviant in one way or another to an individuals' view of "GOD and GOVERNMENT."

In recent decades,  the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has used the [[Lemon Test]] as a means for determining whether or not a particular controversy causes excessive entaglement between government and religion, though in some cases has allowed religious icons (such as the Ten Commandments display in Texas <ref http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-1500 </ref>). The first amendment is often paraphrased as "separation of Church and State"; a phrase originating in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association which assured them that their rights (nor anyone's rights) to free exercise of their religion would not be curtailed.

The [[Republican Party]] does not believe in a "physical separation" between Church and State.   The [[Democrat Party]] firmly believes in that "physical separation."

In America today, an individual's party affiliation is often determined by their personal view of the relationship between religion and government. Many other social issues, such as Abortion,  Euthanasia,  Freedom of Speech, and Cloning are based on an individual's religious beliefs.

It is the pre-imminent importance of this issue in American Life and Culture that causes this discussion to have so prominent a place on the main page of this encyclopedia's "United States of America" entry.

Though neither party has taken an official stance on the interpretation of the first amendment, the [[Republican Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe that religion should play a larger role in government, and the [[Democrat Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe the government should remain secular.

==History and geography==

==History and geography==