5 Q, 3 P

"Led by Cromwell, many soldiers had come to feel that they were acting out God's own plans in battle. That is why they would always win, no matter whom they faced. Inspired fighters under divine guidance were not about to accept being treated as hired guns whose term was up; they demanded to be heard." (p. 139).

3P-I thought this book was compelling and I appreciated the illustrations from the era rather than "modernized" ones. I also never realized the connection between the religious upheaval in the New World and in the Old once Cromwell became the Lord Protector. This dual upheaval established a prelude to some of the most important discussions that established the freedoms found in the United States' Constitution and Bill of Rights almost 150 years later. Very important history from both sides of "the Pond" and relevant study for YA's interested in early American history. ( )

4Q 3P "Following the inevitable course of his logic, [Roger] Williams now came to anotehr big idea; in fact, he arrived at one of the core beliefs of American life. The state, he argued, must be completely separate from the church. Today this is a cornerstone of our Constitution, but for the opposite reason. We want to protect the government from the influence of any religion, so that it is fair to all people. Williams wanted to protect religion from the government, so that it could remain pure for the saved." (p. 60) ( )