Did the Articles of Confederation have freedom of religion?

Answer 1

Yes: The Articles of Confederation were (XIII) witnessed "in the Year of our Lord" 1778, the "Third Year of the independence of America" and "agreed to by Congress ...1777 ...ratification ...March 1781." The American War of Independence (4/19/1775 – 9/3/1783) was raging on; the First Congress of the United States would not meet and make the Constitution and Bill of Rights effective until March 4, 1789. The Articles were written by the Continental Congress, when Samuel Huntington was its 7th president. The Articles by the "Delegates of the States (former 13 colonies of Great Britain)" stated that the States would "III. ...enter into a firm league of friendship ...for their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade or any other pretense whatever." The freedom of religion (Christian religion) was as important to the Articles here, as they are in the Bill of Rights; it was no less significant than the "sovereignty" of the Union itself. Many colonists and their relatives had faced religious persecution in Europe or America, many Catholic and Protestants in America faced discrimination. ALL of the constitutions of the individual former colonies (most 1776 or 1777) protected this right. The "Declarations and Resolves (1774) of the First Continental Congress states that "the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council..." and "that their religion, laws and liberties, may not be subverted" and that "they are entitled to life, liberty and property," Not only was "freedom of religion" an important reason of the Articles, but many States went further, such as the Constitution of Massachusetts (1780), Art. II. "It is the right as well as duty of all men in society, publicly and at the stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt... or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession or sentiments, provided he doth not disturb the public peace or obstruct others in their religious worship."