PBS NewsHour journalist Judy Woodruff interviews historian John Fea of the Lumen Center for the Study of Christianity and Culture inside a historic colonial-era church in Philadelphia. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Fea and others are revisiting the long-debated question of how much religion shaped the nation's founding. Photo: PBS NewsHour
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June 11, 2026
Was America founded as a Christian nation? As the country turns 250, historians and faith leaders are debating that question all over again. Here is what students need to know about religion, the founders, and the First Amendment.
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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?
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:
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.
This collection traces the nation’s journey from colonial life and growing resistance to British rule, through the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, and the creation of a new constitutional government. Organized thematically, the resources support instruction in U.S. history, civics, and ELA while encouraging inquiry, discussion, and critical thinking.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
