This is part 2 of a 4-part series on the history of early American freethought. Church and State separation was a major issue that the Founders struggled with from the beginning of our republic, an issue still reverberating in Congress today. A strong effort almost succeeded in inserting into the Constitution a Jesus Christ Amendment as a final authority in all matters. Powerful institutions like the YMCA, the U.S. Postal Service and a majority of state legislatures endorsed blasphemy laws to force people to conform.