1796 Treaty States United States Government not Based Upon a Specific Religious Foundation

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KAUAI, U.S.A., May 19, 2003: Yesterday’s HPI included a story about America’s alleged Christian, Judiac-Christian or Judiac-Christian-Islamic cultures, depending on one’s point of view. Some research uncovered what are generally called The Barbary Treaties, a number of past legal agreements between the United States and Tripoly (North African coastal area) intending to protect American ships. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States and Tripoly was ratified by the U.S. Senate June 10, 1797, during the Presidency of John Quincy Adams. While the language may be antiquated, the intent is clear as Article 11 states, “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 Musselmen (Muslims), and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan 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.”