WallBuilders American Foundations Digital Library [DVD-ROM]

Original Intent

• 540 pages | Book and Audio

In their words, the Supreme Court has become “a national theology board,” “a super board of education,” and amateur psychologists on a “psycho-journey.” The result has been a virtual rewriting of the liberties enumerated in the Constitution.

• A direct victim of this judicial micromanagement has been the religious aspect of the First Amendment. For example, the court now interprets that Amendment under:
• A “Lemon Test” absurdly requiring religious expression to be secular
• An “Endorsement Test” pursuing an impossible neutrality between religion and secularism
• And a “Psychological Coercion Test” allowing a single dissenter to silence an entire community’s religious expression

Additional casualties of judicial activism have included protections for State’s rights, local controls, separation of powers, legislative supremacy, and numerous other constitutional provisions. Why did earlier Courts protect powers for generations, and what has caused their erosion by contemporary Courts?

Original Intent answers these questions. By relying on thousands of primary sources, Original Intent documents (in the Founding Fathers’ own words) not only the plan for limited government originally set forth in the Constitution and Bill of Rights but how that vision can once again become reality.

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A Spiritual Heritage Tour of the United States Capitol

• 110 pages | Book and Video

This book will guide you through the inside of the United States Capitol building, the striking symbol of American liberty. You will experience a unique perspective on its diverse history and be inspired by the many Godly heroes and the beautiful religious artwork displayed throughout the building. You will also learn some remarkable facts about the spiritual heritage of the Capitol that you won’t find in other guidebooks. For example, did you know that:

• The Capitol building served as a church building for decades?
• Many of the statues in the Capitol are ministers of the Gospel?
• The original Supreme Court, which met in the Capitol, began its sessions with ministers praying for the Court, the jury, and their deliberations?
• The printing of the first English-language Bible in America was facilitated and endorsed by the United States Congress?

Learn the inspiring stories behind these events and behind the paintings and statues throughout the building. Whether you’re planning a visit to the Capitol or simply want to know more about this majestic edifice, this guide will serve as an indispensable tool.

School groups, church groups, civic groups, families, and individuals will be enriched by discovering the great heroes and events featured throughout the U.S. Capitol Building.

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Benjamin Rush

• 320 pages | Book and Audio

Dr. Benjamin Rush was a great American hero and role model. At the time of his death in 1813, he was heralded as one of America’s three most notable men, along with George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. And no wonder! He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, served under three Presidents, helped found five universities and colleges, is titled “The Father of American Medicine,” led both the abolition and prison reform movements, and founded American Sunday Schools and the nation’s first Bible Society. Amazingly, two hundred years ago, Dr. Benjamin Rush offered insights still applicable today. For example:

• On music: “We can discover the virtues and the vices of a nation by its music as much as by its laws.”
• On welfare: “Idleness is the parent of every vice. Make men work and you will make them honest.”
• On party affiliation: “I am neither an Aristocrat nor a Democrat. I am a Christ-ocrat.”
• On the press: “The licentiousness of the press is a fruitful source of the corruption of moral.”
• On patriotism: “Patriotism is both a moral and religious duty. It includes not only the love of our neighbors but of the present and of future generations.”
• On the Bible in schools: “The Bible, when not read in schools, is seldom read in any subsequent period of life.”

Learn about the inspiring life of Dr. Benjamin Rush, and read from his insightful writings – many of which are here reprinted for the first time in two centuries! Dr. Benjamin Rush – a true American hero!

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Celebrate Liberty! Famous Patriotic Speeches & Sermons

• 256 pages | Book

Liberty! – the cry of the human heart! Every nation and people have sought it, but none has enjoyed a fuller measure than America.

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.
— George Washington

Americans have faithfully transmitted the unique precepts of American liberty from generation to generation, and this book recaptures nine of the greatest early American orations about the blessings and responsibilities of liberty. These orations were delivered by some of America’s greatest orators: John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Samuel Davies, George Bancroft, Noah Webster, and others.

God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it.
— Daniel Webster

These timeless orations are once again available and speak directly to the hearts of today’s citizens!

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America's Godly Heritage

• 33 pages | Book and Video

America’s Godly Heritage clearly sets forth the beliefs of many of the famous founding Fathers concerning the proper role of Christian principles in education, in government, and in the public affairs of the nation. The beliefs of Founders like George Washington, John Adams, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Wilson, George Mason, John Quincy Adams, and many others are clearly presented.

America’s Godly Heritage also provides excepts from court cases showing that for 160 years Christian principles were part of official American public life. You’ll see numerous charted statistics showing what has happened to America since the courts began rejecting the Founders’ beliefs.

America’s Godly Heritage is an excellent primer for those who want to know more about what was intended for America by the Founders and what can be done to return America to its original guiding philosophy.

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A Constitutional Amendment Protecting School Prayer and Other Religious Speech

• 28 pages | Book

Never in America’s history has there been the widespread official hostility to religious expression as experienced today:

• A student was arrested for participating in a “See You At The Pole” voluntary prayer gathering before the start of the school day.
• A federal judge warned that if students used the word “Jesus” in a prayer that they would receive “six months incarceration in the Galveston County jail.”
• School officials require students to turn in their prayers in written form before they can be prayed so that attorneys can edit the prayers to remove “offensive phrases” such as “heavenly Father.”
• States refuse to customize license plates if they contain the word “Pray” or “God.”
• School officials threaten that prayer would be disciplined the same as the use of profanity.
• Displays may not include the Ten Commandments, regardless of how many other diverse documents are included in the display.
• Students are prohibited from saying the Pledge of Allegiance or “God Bless America” because of the religious references they contain.

And there are thousands of similar incidents. However, religious liberties can be restored and protected through the new “Religious Speech Amendment” to the Constitution. This volume will help you understand this important issue and what you can do to help.

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Documents of Freedom

• 58 pages | Book

This volume presents three founding documents – The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and Washington’s “Farewell Address” – in an effort to strength our national foundation. The courage and wisdom of our Founding Fathers need not be a forgotten or disregarded page from the American epic. The principles they delivered to us are worthy of additional study and contemplation. The great American experiment in self-government is worthy of continuing on and supporting us throughout this new millennium.

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Ethics: An Early American Handbook

• 145 pages | Book

Ethics (the practice of morality) is the foundation of sound character. And soundness of character is – and always has been – the crucial issue regarding a nation’s longevity. Founding Father Elias Boudinot confirmed this when he declared: “If the moral character of a people once degenerate their political character must soon follow.”

Consequently, strengthening character by ethics has always remained one of America’s foremost social objectives. As confirmed by President George Washington: “A good moral character is the first essential. It is highly important not only to be learned but to be virtuous.”

Much attention has recently been focused on reinstituting ethics and character education. Yet, what is being taught today is simply a re-teaching of traits taught for centuries – traits such as industry, honesty, politeness, gratitude, purity, and duty to God.

Because such qualities are timeless in their application, an early 1890 work (based on works from the 1840s) is here reprinted for contemporary use. This work will inspire citizens of all ages to a greater elevation of their own character and therefore of the nation’s character.

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The Role of Pastors & Christians in Civil Government

• 56 pages | Book and Video

Did you know that the Church played an invaluable role in the struggle for America’s independence? Learn the exciting truths about the efforts of Christians such as Roger Sherman and Charles Thomson and pastors such as the Rev. Dr. Samuel Cooper and the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhew. Examine the Biblical teachings that caused generations of Christians to believe it was their duty to be involved with government. Discover how the actions of a few dedicated Christians changed the course of a nation.

It is time to reengage in civil stewardship from a Biblical viewpoint. But first we must understand the true historical and Biblical role of Christians in government – a role clearly documented in this exciting and inspiring account.

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Separation of Church and State: What the Founders Meant

• 16 pages | Book and Video

Separation of Church and State: What the Founders Meant is designed as a tool to demonstrate that the current “separation of church and state” is something never intended by the Founding Fathers. It not only surveys the historical statements and records surrounding the original drafting of the First Amendment, but also shows what happened statistically when the 1962 Court rejected the Founders’ intent. It further shows that the current court is beginning to return to and uphold many values previously struck down.

Separation of Church and State: What the Founders Meant gives an overview of the Founders’ own understanding of the First Amendment and will be helpful to anyone who desires to know the truth about their interpretations. Learn why the current doctrine of “separation of church and state” was never intended by the Founders.

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Four Centuries of American Education

• 62 pages | Book and Video

America is now entering its fifth century of educating students. Throughout the first four centuries, impartation of three essential elements – religion, morality, and knowledge – was the core of the education system that produced some of the world’s greatest leaders in areas from science and government to theology and jurisprudence. In recent decades, however, the secularization of education has become the new American paradigm; and statistics clearly demonstrate that the more secular American education becomes, the less successful it is academically.

The education of youth… lays the foundations on which both law and gospel rest for success.
— Noah Webster

Four Centuries of American Education examines education both past and present. Learn about some of America’s greatest educators and textbooks, and discover what long made America a world leader in education. The remarkable history in this book will both challenge and inspire readers of all ages.

Religion, Morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
—America’s First Federal Educational Law, 1789

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Keys to Good Government According to the Founding Fathers

• 32 pages | Book and Video

In recent years, American government has been plagued with a burgeoning number of scandals and corrupt public officials, yet for almost two centuries American government had been characterized as sound and morally untainted. What caused the change? Unfortunately, we disregarded and lost much of the specific advice given to us by those distinguished men who formed our government.

Discover the keys to good government by investigating the wise counsel and instruction given to us by leaders like William Penn, Benjamin Rush, Noah Webster, John Witherspoon, John Adams, Fisher Ames, George Washington, and many others. The information in Keys to Good Government not only stands in stark contrast to many contemporary teachings surrounding civic responsibilities, it also shows how we as Americans can reclaim the quality of government we once enjoyed.

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Lessons from Nature for Youth

• 96 pages | Book

Throughout the centuries, nature has been one of the best and most effective of God’s teachers. This historical reprint of an 1836 original is based on the principles from Job 12:7, “Ask the animals and they will teach you....” It will help teach young people loyalty from a buffalo, gratitude from a lion, honesty from a woodpecker, cooperation from beavers, discernment from a grasshopper, and much more! Great for people of all ages!

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Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

• 392 pages | Book

In 1776, fifty-six Americans signed a simple document which unalterably changed the course of this country. Most know of the importance of the Declaration of Independence, but few know much about its signers.

This book (originally published in 1848 by eminent 19th-century historian Benson J. Lossing) provides a brief biography of each signer of the Declaration. Accompanied by fifty engravings, these biographies shed light on what Lossing terms, “the chief events in the lives of the men who stood sponsors at the baptism in blood of our infant republic.” Through this book – long used in American schools – we, too, can discover the private and public virtues of those venerated Americans who helped create the most stable and enviable nation in the world. Learn the virtues and vision of these venerated Americans who risked their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” to help create the most stable and enviable nation in the world.

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Old and New Testament Bible Study Courses

• 96 and 121 pages | Books

For a number of years the Dallas public schools allowed one-half credit toward high-school graduation for the successful completion of a general survey course in the Bible, given in the churches and Sunday schools of the city. In 1939, it was decided to provide separate courses in the Old and New Testaments, each course carrying one-half unit of credit toward high school graduation.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament study courses an attempt has been made to avoid controversial questions by placing emphasis on the study of the Bible itself. Standards of work and teaching procedures are expected to approximate as closely as possible those used in the day schools. These in-depth courses are suitable for individuals or groups of youth or adults.

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Noah Webster’s Advice to the Young and Moral Catechism

• 53 pages | Book

Noah Webster was an influential Founding Father, serving as a soldier during the American Revolution and as a legislator in two states after the Revolution. He was the first Founding Father to call for a Constitutional Convention and was personally responsible for the copyright clause found in Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.

Like most of the Founding Fathers, Webster understood that the ability of our new government to endure would depend upon the quality of our educational system. Consequently, he became a leading educator and for almost six decades authored textbooks designed to transmit to subsequent generations the principles embodied in the government he had helped create.

Two works he authored to help train future generations were his “Moral Catechism” (1783), and “Advice to the Young” (1832), of which he explained:

The ‘Advice to the Young,’ it is hoped, will be useful in enlightening the minds of youth in religious and moral principles, and serve, in a degree, to restrain some of the common vices of our country… to exterminate our popular vices is a work of far more importance to the character and happiness of our citizens than any other improvements in our system of education.

These two powerful works are reprinted in this booklet and are beneficial not only for America’s current students, but for former students never exposed to these works in their school textbooks.

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Restraining Judicial Activism

• 64 pages | Book and Audio

Whereas Americans once enjoyed the finest fruits of judicial integrity, we now speak with distaste at the many unpalatable decisions served by our robed officials. Popular and long-standing religious expressions are muzzled; criminals are released on technicalities; jury verdicts are deemed irrelevant; the will of the people is ignored. All of these travesties, and more, are handed down from judges who hold their offices for life – who often rule not on the basis of the Constitution they swore to uphold but rather according to their own personal values and agendas – who have usurped power and become robed legislators.

In Restraining judicial Activism, David Barton illustrates the current extremes of egregious judicial decisions and discusses the constitutional process of removing reprobate judges from office, using the means specifically designated by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution. With concise clarity, Barton describes the historical perspective on removing overactive judges through impeachment, and aptly compares the current misconceptions on impeachable offenses with the Constitution’s explicit provisions. Restraining Judicial Activism presents the reader a workable solution for restoring justice to the American courtroom.

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Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White

• 190 pages | Book and Video

Setting the Record Straight reintroduces this generation to the forgotten heroes and untold stories from our rich African American political history:

• The Rev. Richard Allen, the founder of America’s first black denomination
• The Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, the first African American to deliver a sermon in Congress
• The Rev. Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first black U.S. Senator
• Joseph Hayne Rainy, the first African American elected to the U.S. Congress
• Jefferson Franklin Long, the first African American to give a speech in the U.S. House
• John Rock, the first African American admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar
• John Roy Lynch, the first African American to preside over a national political convention
• The Rev. Fredrick Douglas, the first African American to be appointed to office in four different presidential administrations

These heroes – and many others – are presented in this inspiring documentary of African American political history.

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The Bulletproof George Washington

• 68 pages | Book

George Washington’s part in a July 9th, 1755, battle in the French and Indian War is indisputably one of the most significant events of his early years; his life literally hung in the balance for over two hours. This dramatic event helped shape his character and confirm God’s call on him.

During the battle, the 23-year-old Colonel Washington had ridden to and fro on the battlefield, delivering General Braddock’s orders to the troops. Specifically targeted by the Indians because he was an officer, Washington found himself in great peril. In fact, of the eighty-six British and American officers, sixty-three were casualties; Washington was the only officer on horseback not shot down.

This book will captivate you with the thrilling details of that battle and of Washington’s gratitude to God for His protection. You’ll read his personal account of the battle and excerpts from his letters to his family where Washington tells them of God’s deliverance.

This account of God’s miraculous care of Washington and of Washington’s open gratitude for God’s Divine intervention could be found in many student textbooks until 1934; however, today few have ever heard of it. This illustrated work will help restore some of our lost American heritage.

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The New England Primer

• 86 pages | Book

The New England Primer was the first textbook ever printed in America and was used to teach reading and Bible lessons in our schools until the twentieth century. In fact, many of the Founding Fathers and their children learned to read from The New England Primer.

This volume is an historical reprint of the 1777 version used in many schools during the Founding Era. A great resource for homeschoolers or for use in any classroom, The New England Primer will challenge, inspire, and help mold a sturdy generation of Americans who will be able to contribute significantly to America’s liberties and institutions.

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The Practical Benefits of Christianity

• 32 pages | Book and Audio

Was America ever a so-called “Christian” nation? Were any of our Framers Christians? While this question has been asked frequently in recent years, previous generations knew the answer to these questions. They knew, for example:

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were… the general principles of Christianity.
— John Adams

The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles… and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.
— Noah Webster

The Christian religion… must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society.
— Daniel Webster

Christianity… was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendents.
— House Judiciary Committee, 1854

Why did our Framers and early statesmen choose Christianity? Perhaps the best answer was provided by Dewitt Clinton, the Framer who introduced the Twelfth Amendment. He explained: “Christianity may be contemplated in two important aspects: first, in reference to its influence on this world, and secondly, in its reference to our destiny in the world to come.”

Today, the debate over Christianity in public life has been limited primarily to discussions about “our destiny in the world to come”; it is time that we rediscover the impact of Christianity’s “influence on this world.” Learn what our Framers believed to be the practical benefits of Christianity upon civil society and why these benefits are still needed today.

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The Second Amendment

• 96 pages | Book

The Second Amendment has become one of the most controversial parts of the Constitution. Gun opponents claim that “the right to keep and bear arms” is a right that belongs only to the police and military. However, the Founding Fathers who wrote the Second Amendment in 1789 disagreed.

Read the Founders’ words and examine their early laws and State constitutions on the subject. The conclusion is inescapable that the guarantees of the Second Amendment pertain to every citizen individually. Furthermore, learn of the Founders’ timeless proposals made two centuries ago on how to deal with the gun violence that today shatters communities and causes the loss of innocent life.

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The Spirit of the American Revolution

• 25 pages | Book and Video

The American Revolution was to dream the unthinkable: fifty-six men who pledged their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” to overthrow the world’s greatest military power. What was the spirit that motivated these men? What was the spirit behind the American Revolution? Learn the answers to these questions as you investigate both their words and their actions in The Spirit of the American Revolution.

• Discover the meaning of the legal phrase on which the American Revolution was based: “The Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”
• Visit the first session of the U.S. Congress in 1774 and observe the lengthy prayer session from which the nation was birthed.
• Follow the military exploits of Major-General Rev. John Peter Muhlenburg, the Rev. James Caldwell, and Ethan Allen.
• Learn what John Adams, George Washington, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry had to say about God’s hand in the American Revolution.
• Learn something of the fifty-six individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence – men like Benjamin Rush, Samuel Huntington, Stephen Hopkins, Matthew Thornton, Samuel Chase, and many others.

Learn about all of this and much more in The Spirit of the American Revolution.

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A Guide to the School Prayer & Religious Liberty Debate

• 42 pages | Book

Those days have vanished. This divine mandate now encounters the resistance of confusing and contradictory court decisions that are used to secularize the education process. The First Amendment is now interpreted by a “Lemon Test” where religion must be secular, an “Endorsement Test” in search of a mythical, religious neutrality, and a “Psychological Coercion Test” under which a sole religious dissenter can rule the majority. Why has the First Amendment become so confusing?

The Supreme Court answers. In their own words, they are now “a national theology board,” “a super board of education,” and amateur psychologists on a “psycho-journey.” The results? Americans are experiencing a distinct religious censorship and even overt religious hostility.

Yet, there is now an opportunity for our religious liberties to be restored, and for constitutional clarity and consistency to replace judicial confusion and contradiction. Are you aware of this progress? Are you involved in the process? A Guide to the School Prayer Debate will help you understand not only the issues but also the national imperative to honor the divine mandate.

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America: To Pray or Not To Pray

• 163 pages | Book and Audio

This book uses government statistics to show that 1962 – the year religious principles were first separated from public affairs – was the year that the decline started in youth, education, families, and the nation. These are examples of the more than 40 charts presented in America: To Pray or Not to Pray.

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John Jay - His Life and Writings

John Jay – His Life and Writings contains six early books about distinguished Founding Father John Jay (1745-1829), an author of the Federalist Papers and the original Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Two of the six books were published in 1833 as The Life and Writings of John Jay, by his son, William Jay. The other four were published in 1890 as The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay.

Note: This resource will be broken up into two different titles on the WallBuilders American Foundations Collection CD or DVD-ROM: The Life of John Jay and The Correspondence of John Jay.

Life & Correspondence of Charles Carroll: Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Life & Correspondence of Charles Carroll contains the Life and Correspondence of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, first published in 1898 in two volumes. Founding Father Charles Carroll (1737-1832) was one of the most famous American patriots, signing not only the Declaration of Independence (the only Roman Catholic to sign that document) but also helping write the Bill of Rights in the first federal Congress (he is one of the few leaders honored both with a statue and a portrait inside the U.S. Capitol). At his death in 1832, Charles Carroll was the last surviving signer of the Declaration and considered the wealthiest citizen in America. With Life & Correspondence of Charles Carroll, you can not only read one of the most famous biographies ever written about this great leader but you can also browse his writings to discover insights on the issues of his day – and even on many of today’s issues.

Patrick Henry: His Life, Correspondence and Speeches

Patrick Henry is one of the most recognizable names from the American Founding era. As a fiery orator, he is best known for his declaration, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Yet this remarkable Founder had a much greater influence than quotable motivational statements. He was a member of the Continental Congress, served five terms as Governor of Virginia, and was a ratifier of the U.S. Constitution. He was a deeply religious man and strongly committed to his family.

After Henry’s death, his grandson, William Wirt Henry, collected his grandfather’s writings into a three-volume set, along with an insightful biography. Patrick Henry: His Life, Correspondence and Speeches makes not only the life of Patrick Henry but also his correspondence and speeches available to this generation.

George Mason: His Life, Correspondence and Speeches

George Mason was such an influential Founding Father that he has been titled, “The Father of the Bill of Rights.” All Americans have benefited from his efforts, for it is the Bill of Rights that protects many of our inalienable rights, including freedoms of religion, speech, and the press; the right to keep and bear arms; etc. Yet despite the fact that no one is more responsible for the Bill of Rights than George Mason, he is probably one of the least known Founding Fathers. Learn about him in Life, Correspondence and Speeches, originally compiled by his descendent, Kate Mason Rowland in 1892.

What Happened in Education?

• 39 pages | Book

In this comprehensive assessment of the American educational crisis, David Barton takes a fresh look at the Department of Education’s report and the many theories offered by educational specialists as to why American scholastics are slipping. He comes to some surprising conclusions and offers tips on how to reverse this unfortunate trend.

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The Community Life Amendment: What it is. What it can do.

• 49 pages | Book

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Did Television cause the changes in youth morality?

• 28 pages | Book

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Wives of the Signers: The women behind the Declaration of Independence

• 283 pages | Book

Wives of the Signers describes those women who, alongside their husbands, experienced the trials and triumphs of the struggle for independence and the challenge of building a new nation. Who were they?

• Abigail Smith Adams, wife of one president, mother of another, and perhaps the most influential woman of her day
• Annis Boudinot Stockton, wife of Richard Stockton, whose home was looted and burned during the savageries of war
• Deborah Scudder Hart, wife of John Hart, who suffered for months as her patriotic husband was hounded and hunted as a criminal
• … and many more.

Wives of the Signers highlights these great American women. Though they did not confront the hail of bullets or cannon, though they did not participate in conventions or congresses, they were at the heart of every soul-stirring historic event. Wives of the Signersis a book about the heart of America.

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The Question of Freemasonry and the Founding Fathers

• 164 pages | Book

• How many of the Founding Fathers were Freemasons?
• Is Freemasonry compatible with Christianity?
• Did the Founders imbed Masonic symbolism in Washington, D. C. and in our currency?
• Was George Washington a Freemason and a Christian?

The Image and the Reality: Thomas Jefferson and the First Amendment (in Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy)

• 60 pages | Book

The Articles of David Barton Collection

Available for the first time anywhere, The Articles of David Barton Collection represents the significant contribution to the study of history and political science David Barton has made outside of his extensive catalog of books and video productions. Addressing both timely and timeless topics, the articles presented here distill Barton’s thoughts on everything from Thomas Jefferson to the Pledge of Allegiance into short, accessible commentaries.

God: Missing in Action from American History

Rediscover God’s hand in America’s history through forgotten heroes.

Ensuring Judicial Accountability for State Judges

An article originally written as testimony in favor of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution providing for the election of Kansas supreme court justices.

A Tale of Two Constitutions

Contrasting the two different philosophies of constitutional interpretation.

Revisionism: How to Identify It in Your Children's Textbooks

Revisionism is the common method employed by those seeking to subvert American culture and society. This article explains how to recognize revisionism in school texts.

James Madison and Religion in Public

James Madison’s religious views and activities are numerous, as are his writings on religion. An understanding of Madison’s religious views is complicated by the fact that his early actions were at direct variance with his later opinions. Those who would use Madison as an authority in secularizing the public arena misrepresent his historical role in framing the First Amendment and ignore the views and importance of other prominent Founders.

Impeachment of Federal Judges

As presented in this article, the Founders’ intent for impeachment was to protect the fundamental principle of "the consent of the governed." For this reason impeachment was used whenever judges disregarded public interests, affronted the will of the people, or introduced arbitrary power by usurping the role of the Legislature.

Solving the Pledge of Allegiance Controversy

A discussion of the recent Pledge of Allegiance controversy generated by the Ninth Circuit's ruling that the phrase "under God" violates the U. S. Constitution. While the decision was later stayed by one of the judges involved, the ruling provides a clear example of the difference between two competing judicial philosophies.

Ten Steps To Change America

Ten positive steps that will help restore America's Christian heritage.

Electoral College: Preserve or Abolish?

An analysis of the current movement to replace the Electoral College.

Evolution and the Law: “A Death Struggle Between Two Civilizations”

David Barton’s contribution to Regent University Law Review’s special issue on the famous "Scopes Monkey Trial." Here, Barton presents what he believes to be the Framers' view of that issue.

Judges: Should they be Elected or Appointed?

Some states have recently considered proposals that would abolish the election of State judges and replace it with a system of appointed judges who would face periodic retention elections.

Republic v. Democracy

Our Founders had an opportunity to establish a democracy in America and chose not to. In fact, the Founders made clear that we were not, and were never to become, a democracy.

The Separation of Church and State

Learn more about the origin of the phrase "separation of church and state," the expression Justice William Rehnquist described as "a misleading metaphor."

Was the American Revolution a Biblically Justified Act?

Some today contend that the American Revolution represented a complete violation of basic Biblical principles and embodied rebellion or a spirit of anarchy. They argue from Romans 13 that since government is of God, then all government decrees are to be obeyed as proceeding from God. Yet, this is only one of two theological interpretations of Romans 13—interpretations representing a debate that has existed among American Christians for centuries.

4th of July Article

America continues to be the longest on-going Constitutional Republic in the history of the world. According to WallBuilders, blessings such as these are not by chance or accidental. They are blessings of God.

Congress, the Culture, and Christian Voting

On many cultural and pro-family issues, polls show that public support is high, but voting numbers show support in Congress is much lower. Why is Congress so far out of step with the American people? David Barton takes a look.

A Review of A&E’s “The Crossing”

The showing on the A&E Network of "The Crossing" has resulted in a flurry of questions being raised about the character and personal habits of Commander-in-Chief George Washington. Specifically, was he as profane with his language as portrayed in the film?

Franklin’s Appeal for Prayer at the Constitutional Convention

An analysis of Benjamin Franklin's appeal to have the clergy offer prayer at the convention of 1787.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & Slavery in Virginia

It is ironic that two prominent Founding Fathers who owned slaves (Thomas Jefferson and George Washington) were both early – albeit unsuccessful – pioneers in the movement to end slavery in their State and in the nation.

The Founders on Public Religious Expression

Would the Founders oppose chaplains for the U.S. Congress or State Legislatures? How did they view public religious expression?

The Founding Fathers and Slavery

Even though the issue of slavery is often raised as a discrediting charge against the Founding Fathers, the historical fact is that slavery was not the product of, nor was it an evil introduced by, the Founding Fathers.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: The Search for Truth

David Barton explores this continuing controversy, exposing the lack of evidence concerning Jefferson's supposed relationship with Sally Hemings.

Treaty of Tripoli

The Treaty of Tripoli, specifically article XI, is often misused in editorial columns, articles, as well as in other areas of the media, both Christian and secular. We have received numerous questions from people who have been misled by the claims that are being made, namely, that America was not founded as a Christian nation. Advocates of this idea use the Treaty of Tripoli as the foundation of their entire argument, and America deserves to know the truth regarding this often misused document.

Was George Washington a Christian?

Part of the ongoing debate surrounding the religious nature of the Founding Fathers. Examine evidence rarely seen in the media or in text books and determine for yourself if Washington was a believer.

Political Parties and Morality

There truly is a difference between Congressional Republicans and Democrats, and nowhere is this difference more evident than on traditional moral values.

Affidavit in Support of the Ten Commandments

David Barton was asked to prepare this legal brief in response to multiple ACLU lawsuits against public displays of the Ten Commandments.

How You Can Be Involved

Practical guidance for having a positive impact on American culture.

The Founders And Public Religious Expressions

Would the Founders oppose chaplains for the U.S. Congress or State Legislatures? How did they view public religious expression?

Analyzing Legislation

Involved in the legislative process? Here are some guidelines for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of legislation and public policy.

The Founding Fathers and Deism

Were the Founding Fathers Deists? David Barton takes a look.

Homosexuals in the Military

An historical analysis of the early American perspective on homosexuals serving in the Armed Forces.

Sample Letters to the Editor

Sample letters to the editor addressing the issues of whether the Founding Fathers were deists, the “separation of church and state” and the use of “theocracy” as a pejorative.

Church in the U.S. Capitol

The United States Capitol regularly served as a church building; a practice that began even before Congress officially moved into the building in 1800 and lasted until well after the Civil War.

Confronting Civil War Revisionism: Why The South Went To War

A prominent example of modern historical revisionism involves an inaccurate view of the Civil War, which asserts that the secession of the southern states at the start of the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery and slavery was not a significant issue in the conflict.

Recent Congressional Successes

Despite the progress made recently on pro-faith and pro-family issues, virtually all the mainstream coverage of Washington politics has been almost completely negative. Here, David Barton highlights some recent, positive Congressional Successes.

Election 2004: A Moral Mandate

Was there a moral mandate delivered by voters on election night 2004? David Barton takes a look at the statistics surrounding the vote.

The Influence of the Bible on America

• Audio

The best-selling book in America continues to be the Bible. So many of the ideas that found application in America’s founding documents and our government were taken from the Bible. It is not only the single most cited authority in the writings of the Founding Era but it is also the book from which many of America’s political and social customs were originally formed – ideas such as self-government, private property ownership, welfare reform, free-enterprise, etc.

The Importance of Duty

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How the Founders displayed and promoted a sense of duty.

Developing a Biblical Worldview

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The social pressure in this generation urges the compartmentalization of faith, isolating it from other facets of life. Learn about the time in America’s history when Christians integrated their faith into every field from the pulpit to the military, from medicine to law, and from education to politics. This timely message shows how to integrate Biblical principles into daily living.

Is America a Christian Nation?

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Rebuts the current interpretation of the phrase "separation of church and state" and discusses the views of the Founders and early courts on the role of Christianity in American society.

Religion and Morality: Indispensable Supports

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Most citizens today know little about the moral and religious nature of America's most successful political leaders. It was their strong belief that liberty without religion was not possible, and that our Constitution was effective only when applied by a moral and religious people and that private virtue provided the foundations of public prosperity. Learn about the Founder’s views on the importance of religion and morality as cornerstones for America.

Moments from America's History

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Originally recorded by David Barton as a series of one-minute radio commentaries, this is a great introduction to some of the thinking of the Founders and is quickly becoming a favorite among many. Special attention is given to the Founders' views on voting.

America: Lessons from Nehemiah

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In this presentation, David Barton compares the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah to the rebuilding of America’s foundations needed today.

Faith and the Presidents

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Today’s critics assert that faith has no place in presidential public policy. Learn how America’s first presidents implemented faith throughout the public policies of their administrations.

The Founding Fathers

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Learn about prominent Founding Fathers in these enjoyable biographical sketches.

Principles for Reformation

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Presents specific guidelines for restoring Biblical principles to all areas of modern society.

Faith, Character, & the Constitution

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The Founding Fathers were convinced that the Constitution alone was inadequate to govern America unless it was applied by leaders of faith and integrity. Discover the clear examples of how faith impacted their decisions and the way they lived their lives. Learn why the Founders believed that character and religious faith mattered in civil society.

The Laws of the Heavens

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This insightful production helps you understand "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God."

The Bible and the Judiciary

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Discover the role the Bible has historically played in America's courts and how it's been removed today.

The Changing First Amendment

• Audio

Learn what the Founding Fathers originally intended for the First Amendment.

America's Birthday: The Fourth of July

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A fascinating look at our nation's birth. Hear about some of the great men, events, and sacrifices involved in bringing America to her status of a successful independent nation. “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Saviour of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day?... Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Saviour?” – John Quincy Adams, July 4, 1837.

Thinking Biblically: Speaking Secularly

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Examine the Biblical examples that show Christians how they can effectively communicate important Biblical truths in today’s secular society. This work presents practical application of biblical truths.