By Andrew V. Ste. Marie
Many people are of the opinion that America was founded as a Christian nation. The early Americans knew better!
This is Article 11 from the Treaty of Tripoli, one of the first treaties the United States entered into. It was a treaty between the U.S. and Tripoli made in 1796 (during George Washington’s presidency).
“As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims, and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mohammedan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries” (emphasis added).