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Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments by James Madison, 1785

Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments by James Madison, 1785

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James Madison June 20, 1785 This is one of the most important documents in the history of religious freedom. James Madison wrote it as part of a drive (by Patrick Henry and the Episcopal Church) to tax Virginians to help support religion. Prior to the Revolutionary War, the churc We the subscribers, citizens of the said Commonwealth, having taken into serious consideration, a Bill printed by order of the last Session of General Assembly, entitled “A Bill establishing a provision…

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Letter from James Madison to William Bradford, April 1, 1774

Letter from James Madison to William Bradford, April 1, 1774

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James Madison April 1, 1774 After graduating from Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey) James Madison returned to Virginia to find a wave of persecution. He writes here to his college friend, William Bradford, about efforts to protect religious minorities. Our Assembly is to meet the first of May When It is expected something will be done in behalf of the Dissenters: Petitions I hear are already forming among the Persecuted Baptists and I fancy it is in…

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Letter from James Madison to Reverend Jasper Adams, January 1, 1832

Letter from James Madison to Reverend Jasper Adams, January 1, 1832

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James Madison January 1, 1832 I recd in due time, the printed copy of your Convention sermon on the relation of Xnity to Civil Gov’ with a manuscript request of my opinion on the subject. There appears to be in the nature of man what insures his belief in an invisible cause of his present existence, and anticipation of his future existence. Hence the propensities & susceptibilities in that case of religion which with a few doubtful or individual exceptions…

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Letter from James Madison to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822

Letter from James Madison to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822

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James Madison July 10, 1822 As an old man, Madison wrote that the separation of church and state had led to an improvement in the quality and vitality of religion. He warned that many people still inclined toward the “old error” of creating alliances between government and religion. “The danger cannot be too carefully guarded agst.,” he said. observe with particular pleasure the view you have taken of the immunity of Religion from civil jurisdiction, in every case where it…

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Autobiography of James Madison

Autobiography of James Madison

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James Madison 1831 Madison sketched a thin autobiography in response to a request from a would-be biographer. He writes in third person. He is over 80 years old at this point, and it’s noteworthy that he devotes significant space in this 12-page treatise to his work on religious freedom. At the age of 12 years, he was placed by his father under the tuition of Donald Robertson, from Scotland, aman of extensive learning, and a distinguished Teacher,in the Countyof King…

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Bill of Rights Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison, June 8, 1789

Bill of Rights Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison, June 8, 1789

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James Madison June 8, 1789 James Madison initially argued that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary. But in his first race for Congress, he promised he would propose a Bill of Rights, including a provision for religious freedom. He kept his promise. On June 8, 1789, he went to the floor of the House and proposed amendments to be embedded throughout the original constitution, rather than as a separate Bill of Rights. His proposal included language that would evolve into…

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Letter from George Washington to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May 10, 1789

Letter from George Washington to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May 10, 1789

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George Washington May 10, 1789 Washington is trying to reassure the Baptists that the new Constitution would provide sufficient guarantees of religious freedom, despite the absence of a Bill of Rights. Gentlemen: I request that you will accept my best acknowledgements for your congratulation on my appointment to the first office in the nation. The kind manner in which you mention my past conduct equally claims the expression of my gratitude. After we had, by the smiles of Heaven on…

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Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, August, 18 1790

Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, August, 18 1790

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George Washington August, 18 1790 For most of the Colonial era, “tolerance” meant tolerance for different denominations of Christians, and sometimes Catholics. In this famous letter, Washington declared that American tolerance included Jews, too. While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens. The reflection…

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Delaware Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules, September 11, 1776

Delaware Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules, September 11, 1776

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Delaware Congress September 11, 1776 The religious freedom clauses of the Delaware declaration of rights granted broad religious freedom to “all Persons professing the Christian Religion.” That all Men have a natural and unalienable Right to worship Almighty God according to the Dictates of their own Consciences and Understandings; that no Man ought or of Right can be compelled to attend any religious Worship or maintain any Ministry contrary to or against his own free Will and Consent, and that…

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Letter from Danbury Baptists to Thomas Jefferson, October 7, 1801

Letter from Danbury Baptists to Thomas Jefferson, October 7, 1801

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Danbury Baptists October 7, 1801 This is the letter that prompted Jefferson’s famous letter declaring there to be a wall separating church and state. Sir, — Among the many millions in America and Europe who rejoice in your Election to office; we embrace the first opportunity which we have enjoyd in our collective capacity, since your Inauguration, to express our great satisfaction, in your appointment to the chief Majestracy in the United States; And though our mode of expression may…

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