Maryland: The Test Oath

America has had some strange laws in the past that have, without question, benefited some populations over others. The Maryland “Test Oath” was one of them. When Solomon Etting moved to Baltimore, Maryland, the Revolutionary War was over and he was ready to begin his life anew. He remarried, started a new business, and when the time seemed right, he considered running for office. And that was when he learned of the “Test Oath” — an oath that required candidates to swear their dedication to the Christian Church before running. That was fine for Solomon’s Christian friends — but Solomon was Jewish. What to do?

Note: Though this is historical fiction and the characters have been developed to accommodate a story, their attributes and development may be useful as reference points and inspirations.