Legislation · 1786

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and first introduced in 1779, the bill was guided to passage by James Madison while Jefferson served as minister to France. Its preamble declared that “Almighty God hath created the mind free,” and its enacting clause provided that no one could be compelled to attend or support any religious worship or suffer for religious opinions, and that such opinions would not diminish or enlarge anyone’s civil capacities.

“Be it enacted by 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…”

Thomas Jefferson, January 16, 1786

Why it matters

Jefferson chose it as one of three achievements for his epitaph, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the University of Virginia, and it is widely regarded as a forerunner of the First Amendment’s religion clauses.

Read the full text at encyclopediavirginia.org

Primary Source

The original record, reproduced or linked from the institution that holds it. Primary sources show what people said and did in their own words.

Subjects

founding religious liberty church and state virginia

From the library

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