But the American colonies, which were part of Great Britain, and their established churches, passed sabbath laws to do just that: coerce attendance. British colonists in Virginia passed the first in 1610:6 Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechising, upon pain for the first fault to lose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, to lose the said allowance and also be whipt; and for the third to suffer death.
