ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of religion in the United States

Religion in the United States tells the story of how many different types of religions have changed the way Americans live and think over time. Going back to the very first settlers who came to this land, religion has been part of how Americans view the world and how they interact with each other. These different religions have caused conflicts among Americans, but also brought people together.

The first religious group to make an impact in the United States were the Puritans who arrived from England in 1620. They were a Protestant group that believed in strict religious rules and hard work. They helped shape early American values around religion, freedom, and hard work.

The next group to come to the United States were the Quakers. They came from England and were strong advocates for religious freedom, because they were being persecuted in England. They wanted to be able to practice their religion without facing discrimination or being forced to do things they didn’t believe in.

In the 1700s, a large wave of Irish and German Catholics started to arrive in the United States. This wave of immigrants changed the religious landscape of the country. They brought their own ideas of religion and helped shape what we now would call the Catholic faith.

With the growth of the United States, different religions started showing up. Judaism, Buddhism, and many others arrived in the United States, along with many different denominations of Christianity such as Methodism and Baptism. This diversity in beliefs helped to shape our nation and brought religious conflict, but it also brought understanding and acceptance among different groups.

Religion in the United States has changed and adapted over time, but it still plays a huge role in how Americans see the world and our place in it. Religions have both caused conflict and brought people together, and continue to do so today.