The Bible’s Impact in the American Story

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A non-devotional, academically rigorous online course that explores how the Bible has influenced American history, culture, law, and civic life. Designed to meet constitutional guidelines, the course presents content in a viewpoint-neutral framework focused on historical impact—not religious instruction.

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of a New World (1600s)
Colonization, covenant communities, religious liberty, and early moral frameworks

Module 2: Revolution and the Language of Liberty (1700s)
Biblical ideas in independence, resistance, and the American Revolution

Module 3: Founding the Republic (Late 1700s)
Constitutional design, civic virtue, law, and national identity

Module 4: A Nation Divided (1800–1860)
Slavery, suffrage, Native policy, and competing biblical interpretations

Module 5: Continuing Influence (19th through the 21st century)
Ongoing influence in later American history and modern civic life

How This Course Develops Critical Thinking

This course moves beyond memorization—students analyze how ideas shape history.

Students are asked to:

  • Compare competing interpretations of the same text
  • Evaluate historical arguments using evidence
  • Understand how context shapes meaning
  • Form and defend their own conclusions

Real Course Examples

Students will:

  • Analyze excerpts from William Bradford’s writings alongside the Mayflower Compact to understand how covenantal ideas influenced early self-government
  • Evaluate how Benjamin Franklin referenced religious ideas during the Constitutional Convention and assess how those references functioned in debates about unity and governance
  • Examine how early colonial leaders used biblical language to frame community rules, authority, and the purpose of government
  • Compare how the Bible was used both to defend and oppose slavery
  • Analyze how passages in the Bible shaped arguments for and against women’s suffrage
  • Examine how phrases like “liberty” and “city on a hill” shaped national identity
  • Explore how the Bible influenced music, speeches, and founding documents

Instructional Design & Delivery

  • 100% online, asynchronous or blended learning format
  • Flexible pacing: semester or full-year
  • Full turn-key support (teacher, LMS/SIS hosting, district and student support), or course only, utilizing district LMS, local teacher and technical support)
  • Course reviewed by national attorneys for constitutional compliance 

Includes:

  • Clear lesson objectives
  • Interactive activities
  • Formative & summative assessments
  • Standards-aligned content (The standards for this course are derived from the Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework)

Student Outcomes

Students will gain:

  • Strong critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Ability to evaluate primary sources and arguments
  • Deeper understanding of American history and civic ideas
  • Experience engaging in complex, real-world debates

Why Schools Choose This Course

✔ Fills a humanities gap in elective offerings

✔ Supports civic literacy and historical reasoning

✔ Designed for broad adoption across states

✔ Meets expectations for academic rigor and neutrality

 

This course equips students not just to learn periods of American history—but to think deeply about the ideas that shaped it.

At this time, this course is not QM certified*