US Government was not founded on Christianity

1796 On this day, during the presidency of George Washington, the government of the USA signed its first treaty with another nation. That treaty, made with Tripoli, Libya, included the statement, "The Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion".

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

So reads Article 11 of the Treaty with Tripoli (Libya), signed on this day. It was the first treaty that the Americans signed with another nation.

The Tripoli Treaty is frequently cited to indicate that the USA was not founded on Christianity.

Was the USA founded on Christianity? in the Scriptorium

Categories: religion, christianity, usa