1878+Reynolds+v.+United+States


 * Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145  (1878) **
 * Summary: ** This landmark case involves Thomas Jefferson’s belief that individuals should have religious freedoms, and that there be a separation between church and state. Also, that the Federal Government have a neutral position toward religion. The First Amendment of the Constitution grants religious rights and freedoms and bans the government from endorsing a religion. At the time in Utah, George Reynolds practiced polygamy which was permitted by his religion. However, the Supreme Court held the position that polygamy was unconstitutional and not protected under the First Amendment’s freedom of religion. At the time, the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was already signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1872 which outlawed polygamy in the United States with the primary focus in Utah. Reynolds argued that it was part of his religious duty to practice polygamy and was one of his rights under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court acknowledged his argument but counter-argued by stating that there already was a law prohibiting bigamy.

Retrieved from, http://schoollawlandmarkcases.wikispaces.com/Landmark+Cases+in+Education+during+the+1800s 8/12/2013 The court considered that if polygamy was allowed, someone might eventually argue that human sacrifice was a necessary part of their religion, and "to permit this would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself." Retrieved from, [] 10 /6/2013