(This is an excerpt from chapter 6 of the book, The Fall of Babylon USA with Prophecies of Civil War and Invasion, by Michael D. Fortner:)

Many books have been written over the centuries proving that America was founded by God-fearing people, on godly principles, as a Christian nation; yet, numerous people still refuse to accept or believe it. Even some Christians refuse to believe it. I could provide many details about how the first pilgrims dedicated the New World to God and for his purposes, but still, people will not believe. A wise man once said that no amount of evidence will convince those who do not want to believe the truth. Therefore, I will not add another book or chapter presenting the same historical truths that are well known, but will take a little different angle.

For those who are interested in reading the historical evidence, I recommend The Light and the Glory, by Peter Marshall & David Manuel. It even has a quote from Christopher Columbus that says he was not following a map, but inspiration from God (p. 17).

In my research, I found absolute proof that America was founded by God and as a Christian nation, a literal smoking gun, which is a de facto covenant with God (“de facto” means being in effect though not formally recognized).

Several decades before the Revolutionary War, the First Great Awakening resulted in the construction of many thousands of churches. Therefore, the population of the colonies at the time of the revolution was mostly Christian.

During the course of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress called upon the whole nation to engage in prayer to God: to repent of our sins, to ask God for victory in battle, and to thank him when we had victory in battle; and to pray for God to establish this nation where we could live in freedom and spread the Gospel. This is in the historical record more than once!

During the Revolutionary War, on November 1, 1777, the Continental Congress’s first order of business was to elect a president of the Congress. The second order of business was to declare a Day of Thanksgiving to God for victory in the Battle of Saratoga (the spelling of some words has been updated):

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defense and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessing on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yet yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consists “in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such recreation as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion. (Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Volume IX. 1777. Gov. Printing Office, 1907, p. 854-855.)

Another day of thanksgiving to God was declared for Dec. 09, 1779, after John Paul Jones captured the HMS Serapis. At that time, Thomas Jefferson was governor of Virginia, and he relayed the request for a day of thanksgiving to his state (in this quote, the spelling has not been updated):

Proclamation Appointing a Day of Publick and Solemn Thanksgiving and Prayer

Whereas the Honourable the General Congress, impressed with a grateful sense of the goodness of Almighty God, in blessing the greater part of this extensive continent with plentiful harvests, crowning our arms with repeated successes, conducting us hitherto safely through the perils with which we have been encompassed and manifesting in multiplied instances his divine care of these infant states, hath thought proper by their act of the 20th day of October last, to recommend to the several states that Thursday the 9th of December next be appointed a day of publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer, which act is in these words, to wit.

“Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise, for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity, amidst difficulties and dangers; . . . and spreading plenty through the land; that he hath prospered our arms and those of our ally, been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory, and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory.

Therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the several states to appoint THURSDAY the 9th of December next, to be a day of publick and solemn THANKSGIVING to Almighty God, for his mercies, and of PRAYER, for the continuance of his favour and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our publick Councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness and success; that he would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant to his church, the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all Ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon the labours of his people, and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance . . .

That he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins, and receive us into his favour; and finally, that he would establish the independance of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety.”

I do therefore by authority from the General Assembly issue this my proclamation, hereby appointing Thursday the 9th day of December next, a day of publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, earnestly recommending to all the good people of this commonwealth, to set apart the said day for those purposes, and to the several Ministers of religion to meet their respective societies thereon, to assist them in their prayers, edify them with their discourses, and generally to perform the sacred duties of their function, proper for the occasion.

Given under my hand and the seal of the commonwealth, at Williamsburg, this 11th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1779, and in the fourth of the commonwealth. (Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson, by Mark A. Beliles and Jerry Newcombe, page 403-404.)

There you have it. The smoking gun that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. It says, right there in direct language, that the Congress of the United States implores Almighty God to “establish” the US “upon the basis of religion and virtue” and to continue to “support and protect” the states in the future. And God did so; therefore, this amounts to a de facto covenant. When the government and the people ask God to establish the nation as a Christian nation, it does not have to be encoded in the Constitution for it to be so.

Another day of thanksgiving was proclaimed after Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray West Point was exposed. Then on October 19, 1781, the British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, bringing an end to the Revolutionary War. After the peace treaty was signed, another Thanksgiving Day to God was declared:

Proclamation by the Continental Congress concerning a day of thanksgiving . . . October 18, 1783 . . . BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. A Proclamation.

Whereas, it hath pleased the Supreme Ruler of all human events to dispose the hearts of the late belligerent powers to put a stop to the effusion of human blood by proclaiming a cessation of all hostilities by Sea and . . . the interposition of divine providence in our favor hath been most abundantly and most graciously manifested and the Citizens of these United States have every reason for praise and Gratitude to the God of their Salvation.

Impressed therefore with an exalted sense of the blessings by which we are surrounded and of our entire dependence on that Almighty Being from whose goodness and bounty they are derived, The United States in Congress assembled do recommend it to the several States to set apart the second Thursday in December next as a Day of public Thanksgiving that all the people may then assemble to celebrate with grateful hearts, and united voices, the praises of their Supreme and all bountiful Benefactor for his numberless favors and mercies, . . . and above all that He hath been pleased to continue to us the light of the blessed Gospel and secured to us in the fullest extent the rights of Conscience in faith and worship. . . . that we also offer up fervent supplications that it may please Him to pardon all our offences, . . . to smile upon our Seminaries and means of education, to cause pure religion and virtue to flourish, to give Peace to all Nations, and to fill the World with his Glory. (http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr16-0638)

You can see from these proclamations that the first Americans were humble and contrite Christians who sought the intervention and guidance of God in all their affairs, including those of the government.

Take a look at the bottom of one Thanksgiving Day Proclamation dated March 16, 1776. Notice that this official government document says, “God Save the People.”

Another Thanksgiving Day was held in 1784, because of the final ratification of the treaty, signed on May 12, 1784:

Whereas it hath pleased the Supreme Ruler of the universe, of his infinite goodness and mercy, so to calm the minds and do away the resentments of the powers lately engaged in a most bloody and destructive war . . . interposition of Divine Providence hath, on many occasions, been most miraculously and abundantly manifested; and the citizens of the United States have the greatest reason to return their most hearty and sincere praises and thanksgiving to the God of their deliverance; whose name be praised: . . . to set apart Tuesday, the 19th day of October next, as a day of public prayer and thanksgiving, that all the people of the United States may then assemble in their respective churches and congregations, to celebrate with grateful hearts, and joyful and united voices, the mercies and praises of their all-bountiful Creator, most holy, and most righteous! . . . more especially that he hath been graciously pleased so to conduct us through the perils and dangers of the war, as finally to establish the United States in freedom and independency, and to give them a name and place among the princes and nations of the earth; . . . that there is no famine or want seen throughout our land: And above all, that he hath been pleased to continue to us the light of gospel truths, and secured to us, in the fullest manner, the rights of conscience in faith and worship. . . . that it may please him of his infinite goodness and mercy, to pardon all our sins and offenses; to inspire with wisdom and a true sense of public good, all our public councils; to strengthen and cement the bonds of love and affection between all our citizens . . . (B. F. Morris, Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, Developed in the Official and Historical Annals of the Republic. Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864, pages 542-543.)

Notice that the people are called on to assemble in their churches and that God is once again credited with founding the nation. These days of thanksgiving to God were religious meetings and had nothing to do with remembering the pilgrims or eating turkey. This is the real and true foundation of our annual Thanksgiving Day. Another was held in 1789:

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789 . . .

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; . . . with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, . . .

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country . . . offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions . . . (www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/ primary-sources/washingtons-thanks giving-proclamation)

Does this information sound like the Founding Fathers were deists? No! The Declaration of Independence clearly states that they are relying upon the protection of God. It ends with these words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

This image (click to enlarge), and previous image, courtesy of Historic.us & www.thanksgivingproclamations.com/

Deism believes that God created the world and then left it alone; therefore, he does not intervene in the affairs of men and does not answer prayer. Benjamin Franklin was a deist early in his life, but later in life he asked that God bless America, which a deist would not say; and likely Thomas Jefferson was, at least to a point, but the majority of them absolutely were not.

Clearly, the claim that the Founding Fathers were deists is a lie. It should be illegal to teach lies about American history in any school, public or private, but it is not! So they are teaching lies!

There were several more days of Thanksgiving to God, such as the War of 1812, and finally, Lincoln declared it an annual event:

The year . . . has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come. . . the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict . . .

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy . . . acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And . . . fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes . . . (http://AbrahamLincoln online.org/lincoln/ news/ words.htm)

Thanksgiving Day has been twisted into a day to remember the Pilgrims’ feast with the Indians, which is A LIE by the lying liars in the public schools and colleges.

FOOTNOTE: Here is the truth about the first Thanksgiving: The history books will tell you that the first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and was a feast with the Indians, but that was just a harvest feast, it was not an actual Thanksgiving Day which was a Day where people gathered to offer prayers of Thanks to God for a particular reason, as seen above.

The first record of such a day was in 1623. The Massachusetts Colony was very short of food, having to scrounge for acorns, clams, and such, which were gotten with difficulty in winter-time. They sent Mr. Pearce to Ireland to bring provisions and were very afraid that he had been taken by pirates. So they proclaimed a day of fasting and prayer to God, but before that day arrived, Mr. Pearce arrived with provisions, so; “Upon which occasion the day of Fast was changed, and ordered to be kept as a day of Thanksgiving; which provisions were by the Governor distributed unto the people, proportionable to their necessities.” (Young’s Chronicles of Massachusetts, p. 385, quoted in Proclamations for Thanksgiving, Issued by the Continental Congress, . . . 1858. Franklin Benjamin Hough, p. vi.)

You can see that our Thanksgiving Day has been changed into a mere harvest feast. The day that Lincoln proclaimed was a day of Thanksgiving to God, not a harvest feast day. I suspect that this lie was invented by the Democrats, because EVERY SINGLE THANKSGIVING after the Civil War was basically remembering the DEFEAT of the southern rebels! They hated this, so the day was surreptitiously changed by teaching the lie in the colleges.