The Religious Roots of the American Revolution and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Journal on Firearms and Public Policy, Vol. 17, p. 167, 2005

18 Pages Posted: 17 Oct 2007

See all articles by David B. Kopel

David B. Kopel

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center; Independence Institute; Cato Institute; Denver University - Sturm College of Law

Abstract

This article examines the religious background of the American Revolution. The article details how the particular religious beliefs of the American colonists developed so that the American people eventually came to believe that overthrowing King George and Parliament was a sacred obligation. The religious attitudes which impelled the Americans to armed revolution are an essential component of the American ideology of the right to keep and bear arms.

Keywords: American Revolution, religion, right to keep and bear arms, Puritans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians

JEL Classification: K42, N41

Suggested Citation

Kopel, David B., The Religious Roots of the American Revolution and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Journal on Firearms and Public Policy, Vol. 17, p. 167, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1022121

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center ( email )

United States

HOME PAGE: http://firearmsresearchcenter.org/

Independence Institute ( email )

727 East 16th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
United States
303-279-6536 (Phone)
303-279-4176 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Cato Institute ( email )

1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-5403
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.cato.org/people/david-kopel

Denver University - Sturm College of Law ( email )

2255 E. Evans Avenue
Denver, CO 80208
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
395
Abstract Views
3,699
Rank
136,466
PlumX Metrics