America and the Ottoman Empire

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the differences and similarities between the United States and the Ottoman Empire, or the Islamic world. It describes the history of each, including how they were founded and then looks at their differences in regards to religion, politics and attitudes. The paper also looks at how all of these issues color relations between the two groups even up until today.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Ottoman Empire
The Crusades
Development of the Empire
North America
America and the Ottoman Empire
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Robert Boston considers the history of church-state relations before the writing of the Constitution and notes how the colonies were moving toward separation. Massachusetts had been founded by the Puritans and was closely allied with that sect. The Puritans did not believe in religious liberty as it is understood today. There was no separation of church and state, and in fact the two were one. It was the law that only members of the Puritan church could vote or serve in the state assembly. Puritan leaders were much influenced by John Calvin, and so they expected the civil leaders of the government to enforce religious dictates, arguing that if the government did not control sin, society would fall apart (Boston 50). This theocratic form of government was not emulated by the other colonies. The separation in Massachusetts began after the separation in Virginia, a state closely tied to the Anglican church. Various harsh laws were passed which angered the colonists, especially as Anglicanism was becoming a minority religion while still requiring the people to pay money to support it."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Andryszewski, Tricia. School Prayer: A History of the Debate. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1997.
• Arkoun, Mohammed. Rethinking Islam. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1994.
• Berger, Peter L., Firuz Kazemzadeh, and Michael Bourdeaux. "The State of Religious Freedom." World Affairs, Volume 147, Issue 4 (1985), 238-253.
• Boston, Robert. Why the Religious Right Is Wrong about Separation of Church and State. Amherts, New York: Prometheus Books, 1993.
• Farah, Caesar A. Islam: Beliefs and Observances. New York: Barron's, 1987.

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