There seems to be a lot of discussion these days about the centrality of Christianity in the founding of the United States. This week I came across a compelling piece of text dating from the closing days of the 18th Century.In those days, US shipping in the Mediterranean was being harassed and pillaged by pirates of the Barbary States of northern Africa. John Adams sent an emissary to work out a treaty. They eventually struck a deal and the Treaty of Tripoli was signed on November 4, 1796. Article 11 of the treaty reads:
- 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 tranquility, of Mussulmen...
The treaty was signed by the President, and ratified unanimously by congress.
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