Analyze how two court cases—Engel v. Vitale (1962) and West Virginia Board of Education V. Barnette (1943)—confirmed the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

Explanation:

Let's begin with the first case, that of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). In this case, two young siblings, Gathie Barnett and Marie Barnett respectfully refused to salute the American flag along with their classmates because of their religious believes as Jehovah's Witnesses; who believe they should pledge their loyalty to God alone, as a result, they were expelled from the Slip Hill Grade School in West Virginia.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed the provisions of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and ruled that schools cannot force citizens to salute the flag and that the actions of the girls meant no disrespect of the flag or country.

In the case, Education V. Barnette (1943), a New York State law mandated every public school to begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a nondenominational prayer. Although the law did allow students to avoid partaking in such activity, it was challenged in court by a parent who felt that the law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of his child. The Court ruled that yes there was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; meaning the state had no right to promote or endorse a particular type of belief system.