Freedom Of Religion!

In the United States, there are many types of religions being practiced. Everyone has the right to choose their religion and to respect the religion of others. Although Catholics were not respected back then, they are now. Freedom of religion should be one of the important issues that occur in the United States.

Since the United States has many different religions they should be able to pick the one they most appreciate or like. I believe that no one should discriminate their choice of religion and they should respect it no matter what. Freedom of Religion is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and back then it wasn't well respected but today it is. Religion should be free and everybody should be able to practice their religion without being mistreated. There should be no law regarding religion.

Freedom of Religion is the First Amendment in the Constitution of The United States. No law should be established regarding religion.Citizens should be able to pick their own religion and practice the want they want to. Nobody should discriminate religion!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Religion_in_the_United_States#The_First_Amendment

Catholicism Today!

Catholics struggled a lot in the past decades to gain equal rights. They were discriminated and mistreated by Protestants, the Ku Klux Klan, and other organizations. They made up a small percent of the United States religion. Now they make up a large percent and Catholicism is one of of the most practiced religion in some states.

Roman Catholicism is a branch of the Christian religion. They have unique traditions and practices and their own beliefs aside from those of Christians. Catholicism has become one of the largest Christian groups with around a billion followers. In nearly all Latin countries, Spain and Italy, Catholicism is the most practiced religion and it makes up half of the worlds Christians. Statistics show that in 2001, 24% of Americans identified themselves as Catholics. Around five Supreme Court Justices are Catholics. Catholic citizens have gain respect from the community and from different people around the world. They are no  longer discriminated and are free to walk down the streets without facing any kind of danger. Catholics have their private churches, priests and many loyal followers.

Although Catholics struggled a lot now they have the equal rights they deserve. They make a large percent on the United States population and have their own churches, unique beliefs and priests. Catholicism is one of the most practiced religion in countries like Spain, Italy and Latin American countries. Now Catholics are well knowned around the world and held high positions in government and in other positions. The Catholics have succeeded.

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/catholicism.htm
http://www.curledup.com/acstody.htm

Catholics Struggle for Equal Rights

 Catholics were opressed and mistreated by many groups or organizations in the United States for many years. They were rejected by society and violent crimes were committed against them. They struggled a lot but did not give up. Instead they started thinking of new ways so that the United States citizens would accept them and treat them equally.

Catholics found a new way to be treated like they deserved, to assimilate. They decided to assimilate into the American society but they still kept practicing their religion. One of the things they did was to participate in both World Wars. By becoming part of the American army they were showing their loyalty to the nation and they hoped that the citizens would see that. Catholics then started gaining the reputation of being socially responsible and for being leaders in the community. Catholic priests and people became involved in social labor and started caring for the poor. They opened shelters and homes for poor and helped them with basic needs like food or clothing. By doing most of these things, people started changing the way they saw Catholics. Others accepted them because they said it was better to have some religion than not having any type of religion. Catholics started seeing progress when president John F. Kennedy was elected president. JFK was Catholic and although he had a hard time winning the elections he still won. Being Catholic almost cost his election but he succeeded.

 The fought for equal rights was a very tough one but they did not give up and they eventually succeeded. Assimilation was their choice so they wouldnt be rejected by American society. They fought in world wars, started showing their care for the poor, opened shelters and a catholic won the United States presidency. Catholicism is one of the religions that is most practiced in the Unites States and that wasnt easy gained. They had to work and gain their respect but they did it and now they are wide known and a very popular religion around the world.

http://www.google.com.pr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/18/98/st-marys

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/tmainstr.htm

http://www.lifeintheusa.com/religion/discrimination.htm

Catholics Being Opressed

 The Catholic religion is a very common one in the United States and around the world but back then it was not. The United States religion around the 1700 was the Protestant religion. Catholics were discriminated by many different organizations and people. Citizens who wanted to practice the catholic religion was very hard for them because they were not accepted or rejected by society.

United States Citizens used to practice the Protestant Religion for many years. People who came from other countries like Ireland and wanted to practice the Catholic religion was almost impossible for them. These people were opressed by the Ku Klux Klan and other Christian denominations. These would vandalize and burn their houses, cars, and other property. These groups also committed violent crimes like the killing of catholics. Citizens believed that by practicing the catholic religion they were damaging or destroying the culture of the United States. Many incidents happened with catholics who wanted to held high positions in companies and even in the government. In 1928, Al Smith wanted to run for president but guess what? HE LOST! Smith was catholic and since the majority of US citizens were anti-catholics, he didnt have enough votes.

 Many Catholics citizens in the United States had a hard time when it was time to practice their religion. These were rejected or discriminated by many organizations like the Ku Klux Klan that only accepted the pure white and by the Protestants. Catholics property was burned and destroyed and other Catholics were even killed. As you could see this religion issue affected many people and even politicians. Good thing that the religion issues in the United States have improved.

http://www.google.com.pr/imgres?

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/tmainstr.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Catholicism

Catholic Civil Rights

 Catholics and other religious groups have been fighting for a long period of time over their rights. Many places around the world have tried to prohibit some basic rights to their people and some have succeeded. Some governments or groups of people have also joined these ideas and have done the same thing. As the ideas spread, people were uniting more and more to fight against these. Many groups, committees, or associations have formed to fight for their rights.One group is the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.


 The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights defends the rights of Catholics so they can appear in public appearances without discrimination or them being treated unjustly. They wanted to certify the religious freedom and freedom of speech for Catholics among other things. The organization was founded in 1973 by Virgil C. Blum and was president until 1989. Many people around the world started joining the organization. The last estimate of membership was made in 1999 with 350,000 members. In the counties of Nassau and Suffolk in New York around 15,000 members were claimed in 2003. They make around 0.1% of the US population.

 The Catholic League has done many protest over the years. Besides protest, they share ideas and respond to other peoples comments. The last response was made in March 31 against a Macy's commercial who offended the Catholics. We hope to keep hearing more about this group and their movements.

http://www.blogger.com/goog_1576306350

http://www.google.com.pr/imgres?q=catholic+league&um=1&hl=es&sa=N&rlz=1R2SNNT_en&biw=1345&bih=464&tbm=isch&tbnid=3fpGbylFITCS4M:&imgrefurl=http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2011/01/catholic-leagues-bill-donohue-spins.html&ei=WhKdTZmvHO200QH29-XmAg&zoom=1

Commenting on Others Blog!

Edricks Blog:
 Edricks essay had many important info. that not many of use knew about. His conclusion was very good because he was right about what he stated. It was well written and everything was organized! I bet he put a lo tof effort into it. :)

http://edrickimmigrationfacts.blogspot.com/

Genderies Blog:
  - Genderies blog had many interesting facts all through out her essay. Her statements were written the correct way and her topic was well developed. She makes us realize what these Indians went through and all the things they had to change to become like the white. This is something no one wants to do, be like others!

http://gingersimmigration.blogspot.com/

Nestors Blog:
- The first thing that caught my attention was his interesting title. It was very unique and catchy. It was a long essay but it was excelently written. He used many proper words that made it more profesional. I liked his conclusion because he made it different although he stated his opinion. He is right about the government still owning them money and who knows if theyll ever pay up.

http://nestor40.blogspot.com/

Tiffanys Blog:
- Her introduction was amazing beacuse it quickly caught my attention adn she stated all her facts. She really put feelings into her essay but she still told what happened without being too bias. I like her opinion on the conclusion. It is true that both acted the wrong way and that the war could have been prevented. Good Job :)

http://www.somethingbytiffany.blogspot.com/

Hiomarks Blog:
- I like many of his comments on the subject. He says that the white think that the Indians were "savages and hostil". That is very true because one of the main reasons for the Indians to assimilate was beacuse whites though they were not capable of doing anything. He  also says that "alcohol was the destroyer of the indians life" and that was one reason. Very interesting!

http://hiomark-taino.blogspot.com/

Native Americans Assimilate!

Many Americans believed that the best way for the Native Americans to settle in white land was to assimilate their ways. Native Americans would assimilate into American Society as landowners and citizens. For this to happen, reservations must have been divided into allotments. Here families learned to be self-supporting. For the Indians to assimilate they had to change thier names, cut off their hairs and change the way they dressed, They also had to change their religion and language. Many Native Americans refused but at the ned they learned to assimilate.

The Daws Act was passed by Congress in 1887. Reservations were divided by families ; 160 acres were given to the households for farming,  80 acres for the single adult, and 40 for the children. The remaining land was given to the American settlers which was more than the land given to the Native Americans. This plan did not work because many Indians did not know how to plant or they had little training.

For a Native American to settle in, they had to change their name to an American white name. One Indian changed his name to Charles Eastmen becuase his dad wanted him to settle in American land. Native Americans hated changing their names becaus they felt their whole history and heritage was being changed.

Americans felt that Indians should cut their hairs and dress more like Americans would. Men and children had to cut their long beautiful braids and put them short. They also had to leave behind their traditional clothing and start wearing formal pants, shirts, shoes and women had to wear dresses.

Americans felt that the most important way of assmilation was for the Indians to change their language and especially their religion. Native Americans had to chang their baisc language to English. Children would go to boarding and special schools to learn their english. Religion was a very important issue for both, the Native Americans and the white settlers.

White settlers felt that the best way for Native Americans to settle in white lands was to assimilate their ways. Indians had to change their names and culture. In 1924, Congress passed the Citizenship Act that granted citixenship to all Native Americans that had stayed in their allotments for 25 years. Ten years later, the Daws Act was ended under the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. Reservations and the control of them was granted back to Native Americans. Indians passsed thorough many harsh situations but at the end they gained some of their property back.


American History Textbook pg. 398
Movie: "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee"