I.Religious Liberty By the middle of the 18th century,many different kinds of Protestants-Lutherans,the Dutch Reformed Church,Presbyterians, Huguenots and Puritans--lived in harmony in America. The Declaration of Independence states,"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.Among the rights,as a political necessity in a religiously diverse society,was freedom of religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States forbade the new federal government to give special favors to any religion or to hinder the free practice,or exercise,of religion Various religious faiths have flourished,as well as perished,in the United States.I. Religious Liberty • By the middle of the 18th century, many different kinds of Protestants—Lutherans, the Dutch Reformed Church, Presbyterians, Huguenots and Puritans--lived in harmony in America. • The Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.” Among the rights, as a political necessity in a religiously diverse society, was freedom of religion. • The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States forbade the new federal government to give special favors to any religion or to hinder the free practice, or exercise, of religion. • Various religious faiths have flourished, as well as perished, in the United States