Thomas Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom

M. Stouklov

For Mr. Haskvitz’s Class

Where/When?

• The Virginia statute for religious freedom

was drafted in Fredericksburg, Virginia in

1779.

• This statue was enacted into Virginia’s

law by the Virginia General Assembly.

• The official day it was enacted was

January 16, 1786.

Why?

• 1) Giving people the freedom of picking which

church they wish to go to.

• 2) Allowing people the freedom to not pay

taxes to the church they go to.

• 3) To keep the churches' power away from the

states’ power.

• 4) To use as a precedent in the Bill of Rights of

the Constitution.

First Part of the Statute

• Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishment or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was his Almighty power to do . . .

What the First Part Means

• 1) The belief that God created the world.

• 2) The belief that God created the capacity for

man to rule himself.

• 3) The belief that God is not actively involved

in world affairs.

• 4) The belief that God has granted individuals

the freedom of conscience is religious matters.

Second Part of the Statute

• Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

What the Second Part Means

• 1) The second part is the main part of the

entire statute.

• 2) No person must be forced to attend a

particular church.

• 3) No person must be forced to give taxes to

their church.

• 4) The belief that an individual is free to

worship as they please without discrimination.

Third Part of the Statute

• And though we well know that this assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of legislation only, have no power to restrain the act of succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act to be irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present, or to narrow its operation, such as would be an infringement of natural right.

What the Third Part Means

• 1) The belief in peoples’ rights to change any

laws through elected assemblies.

• 2) A statement that this statute is not

irrevocable.

• 3) That future assemblies that try to repeal this

act do so at their own peril.

• 4) Belief that if this statute is repealed then it is

"an infringement of natural right."

Separation of Church and State

• One of the main reasons for the creation of this document was not just religious freedom, but the idea of separating the Church and the State.

• Jefferson did not want the Church to be in politics.

• Many of the founding fathers believed that if the State should promote the Church and advance religion, meanwhile not giving it power in politics.

Effect on the Constitution

• The Statute had a great effect on the

Constitution while putting its ideas in the First

Amendment (Establishment Clause and the

Free Exercise Clause).

• The Establishment Clause and the Free

Exercise Clause both state that states that

"Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion".

Test

• 1) During what year was the Virginia Statute for Religious

Freedom approved.

• 2) Who was the founder of the Virginia Stature for Religious

Freedom?

• 3) Name two important things in the first part of the Statute.

• 4) Name two important things in the second part of the Statute.

• 5) Name two important things in the third part of the Statute.

• 6) The Statute focused on the separation of ___ and ___.

• 7) What two clauses did the Statute affect?

• 8) What part of the Constitution are the two Clauses found in?

Answers

• 1) 1786

• 2) Thomas Jefferson

• 3) a) The belief that God created the world.

b) The belief that God created the capacity for man to rule himself.

c) The belief that God is not actively involved in world affairs.

d) The belief that God has granted individuals the freedom of conscience is religious

matters.

• 4) a) The second part is the main part of the entire statute.

b) No person must be forced to attend a particular church.

c) No person must be forced to give taxes to their church.

d) The belief that an individual is free to worship as they please without discrimination.

• 5) a) The belief in peoples’ rights to change any laws through elected assemblies.

b) A statement that this statute is not irrevocable.

c) That future assemblies that try to repeal this act do so at their own peril.

d) Belief that if this statute is repealed then it is "an infringement of natural right.“

• 6) Church, State

• 7) Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Claus

• 8) First Amendment