What if the American Revolution didn’t begin in the halls of Congress, but in the pews of colonial churches? 

In this episode of This Constitution, hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon uncover the spiritual and intellectual fire that helped ignite the Revolution. Before muskets were fired at Lexington and Concord, preachers across New England were already preparing their congregations for rebellion, not just politically but theologically.

From the sermons of Reverend Jonas Clark to the democratic church governance of the Puritans, and from Jonathan Mayhew’s biblical case for resistance to tyranny to Peter Muhlenberg’s dramatic call to arms, Savannah and Matthew trace how America’s revolution was born in the pulpit long before it was fought on the battlefield.

Together, they explore how this Black-Robed Regiment of clergymen bridged faith and politics, shaping the moral vocabulary of liberty that defined the nation’s founding.

In This Episode

• (00:17) Introduction and overview of “The Black Robed Regiment”
• (00:53) Reverend Jonas Clark and the Battle of Lexington
• (04:37) Puritan origins of political liberty and separation of church and state
• (07:14) How congregational church governance shaped early democracy
• (10:21) Thomas Hooker, Connecticut, and the first written constitution
• (17:00) Jonathan Mayhew’s sermon and the theology of rebellion
• (23:19) Samuel Cook’s fearless sermon after the Boston Massacre
• (27:29) Tocqueville, Frederick Douglass, and the moral force of the pulpit
• (32:58) John Witherspoon and Peter Muhlenberg — faith in action
• (38:06) Takeaway: The Revolution began in the pews

Notable Quotes

(00:08:44) “Democratic governance in America didn’t begin in politics. It began in the church.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston

(00:24:45) “The bravery it took for Samuel Cook to stare down the loyal governor and call him a tyrant… that’s a different kind of courage.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston

(00:25:09) “People say religion and politics should be kept separate. But that view ignores our founding. Religion was the spark.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston

(00:20:36) “If obedience to rulers who govern on God’s behalf is obedience to God, then obedience to a tyrant would be obedience to the devil.” — Matthew Brogdon

(00:23:40) “It’s a dangerous thing when theology fuels revolution, but without it, we wouldn’t have political progress.” — Matthew Brogdon

(00:27:55) “Religion in America has always shaped politics—not through force, but through conscience.” — Matthew Brogdon