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Category: Jefferson views on church and state

Thomas Jefferson Autobiography (portion on religious freedom)

Thomas Jefferson Autobiography (portion on religious freedom)

Thomas Jefferson 1821 The bill for establishing religious freedom, the principles of which had, to a certain degree, been enacted before, I had drawn in all the latitude of reason and right. It still met with opposition; but, with some mutilations in the preamble, it was finally passed; and a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of…

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Thomas Jefferson’s Draft Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson’s Draft Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson Jefferson’s draft Included a passage blaming the King of England for the slave trade. To heighten the critique, he points out that this heinous act Is perpetrated by the “Christian king.” When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the equal and independent station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s…

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The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

Thomas Jefferson January 1, 1786 Thomas Jefferson would put the passage of this law as one of his greatest accomplishments. Although Jefferson wrote the measure, it was James Madison who ushered it through the Virginia legislature. Jefferson argued that the Lord’s way is to allow humans to find their way to Him, not through revelation or blind faith but through reason: The “holy author of our religion, who being lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate…

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Second Annual Message to Congress, President Thomas Jefferson, 1802

Second Annual Message to Congress, President Thomas Jefferson, 1802

Thomas Jefferson December 15, 1802 Even though he supported separation of church and state and criticized much religion, Jefferson still seemed to believe that God protected America. December 15, 1802 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: When we assemble together, fellow-citizens, to consider the state of our beloved country, our just attentions are first drawn to those pleasing circumstances which mark the goodness of that Being from whose favor they flow and the large measure…

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, January 1, 1802

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, January 1, 1802

Thomas Jefferson January 1, 1802 The Danbury Baptist Association was founded in 1790 as a coalition of about 26 churches in the Connecticut Valley. Connecticut had established Congregationalism as its official state religion. It was as a persecuted religious minority that they wrote to President Jefferson asking for his help in overthrowing the establishment. Jefferson’s response was not some throwaway courtesy note but the product of careful deliberation involving several of his top advisors. We know this with some certainty…

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Roger C. Weightman, June 24, 1826

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Roger C. Weightman, June 24, 1826

Thomas Jefferson June 24, 1826 This is thought to be one of Jefferson’s final letters. Asked to participate in a Fourth of July celebration, he reflected on the meaning of American Independence, declaring freedom of conscience to be one of the greatest achievements. RESPECTED SIR,  The kind invitation I receive from you, on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration on the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, as one of…

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787

Thomas Jefferson December 20, 1787 Writing from Paris, where he was ambassador, Jefferson is responding to reports he’s hearing about the new Constitution. Some advocates of the Constitution argued that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary because Congress could only exercise powers it was explicitly granted. Jefferson disagreed. DEAR SIR, My last to you was of Oct. 8 by the Count de Moustier. Yours of July 18. Sep. 6. & Oct. 24. have been successively received, yesterday, the day before…

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, March 15, 1789

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, March 15, 1789

Thomas Jefferson March 15, 1789 James Madison had written Jefferson suggesting that perhaps a Bill of Rights might not be wise, since it would not have the breadth that the two of them might want. Jefferson responded forcefully that a Bill of Rights was essential. Your thoughts on the subject of the Declaration of rights in the letter of Oct. 17. I have weighed with great satisfaction. Some of them had not occurred to me before, but were acknoleged just…

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Draft of The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

Draft of The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

Thomas Jefferson January 1, 1779 This was Jefferson’s original draft of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This version placed a greater emphasis on “reason” as the path to God. For instance, the legislature ultimately deleted the idea that God had chosen to “extend it by its influence on reason alone.” The bill, amended, was passed in 1785, while Jefferson was in Paris. SECTION I. Well aware that the opinions and belief of men depend not on their own will,…

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