SUMMARY

As the nation nears its 250th anniversary next month, Judy Woodruff reports on how old questions about faith and the founding are once again being pushed to the forefront. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is John Fea?
2. What is one of the "radical ideas" the nation was built upon, according to Fea?
3. When have questions about America's religious identity become especially prominent throughout U.S. history?
4. Where did the "Freedom 250" event take place?
5. Why is religious freedom considered a foundational American principle by many historians and faith leaders, according to Fea?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What role do you think should religion play in American public life?
• Can a country maintain religious freedom while also embracing a religious identity?

Media literacy: Some interviewees state with certainty that America was founded as a Christian nation, while historians in the article present a more nuanced interpretation. What types of evidence would you need to evaluate these competing claims for yourself? Additionally, as you watch, identify whose voices are included, whose voices may be missing, and how different experiences and beliefs shape people's interpretations of history.

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Conduct a community survey

Explore how people in your community think about religion's role in American history and public life by creating and administering an anonymous short survey to classmates, family members, neighbors or other community members. Let participants know you plan to share with your class only and all responses are anonymous.

Questions can include:

1. Do you believe religion influenced the founding of the United States? (Y/N)
2. Do you think religious freedom is important to American democracy? (Y/N)
3. Can a country have a religious heritage while still protecting religious freedom for everyone? (Y/N)

After collecting responses, compare them across different age groups or demographics and identify areas of agreement and disagreement among respondents. Then, reflect on what your findings reveal about the diverse ways Americans understand the nation's history, values and identity today.

Written by Jackalyn Karamanougian, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern, and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio

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