History of the Catholic Church in the United States British-America-born Catholic priest. In 1788, after the Revolution, John Jay urged the New York Legislature to require office-holders to renounce foreign authorities "in all matters ecclesiastical as well as civil." In one state, North Carolina, the Protestant test oath would not be changed until 1868. The Catholic population of the United States, which had been 35,000 in 1790, increased to 195,000 in 1820 and then ballooned to about 1.6 million in 1850, by which time, Catholics had become the country’s largest denomination. Between 1860 and 1890 the population of Roman Catholics in the United States tripled primarily through immigration and
Surfing in the United States Surfing in the United States Surfing in the United States is one of the most popular pastimes in the country. California, Florida, and Hawaii are the most popular locations for surfing. There are professional surfing leagues such as the World Surf League in the United States. These leagues make it possible for surfers all over the world to become recognized in America for their talent. One of the most famous surfers is Kelly Slater. Kelly Slater has eleven different ASP surfing competitions, making him one of the best in the world. The earliest recorded instances of surfing took place in