Liberty Module 3

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Liberty University *

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History

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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Q. Explain to someone who is unfamiliar with U.S. history whether Thoms Jefferson supported a separation of church and state. Provide support for your answer. The Founding Fathers were the leaders of the American Revolution that brought Independence from Great Britian’s American colonies. They were instrumental in uniting the American colonies into a new nation and creating a government via the Constitutional Convention and the “drafting of the United States Constitution, a landmark document that remains the law of the land even today.” (britanica.com) While there were approximately 55 Constitutional Convention delegates also known as Framers of the Constitution, that were present at the constitutional conventions, seven of them were known as the principle Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson one of the 7 principle American Founding Fathers and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, where he was appointed to draft the document for its consideration. “Jefferson wrote a stunning statement of the colonists’ right to rebel against the British government and establish their own based on the premise that all men are created equal and have the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (loc.gov) In that pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, America declared independence from England and “officially severed her ties to the Anglican Church, the established church of England.” (Beliles & Anderson, 2005, p 69). As the colonies evolved and matured, they instituted their own churches and religious denominations which were supported by the local government. (Bellies & Anderson, 2005, p. 69). Today those colonies are called States, and no one was required to choose the religion of the colony in which he lived. There was freedom to move to another colony if desired. Some believe that Thomas Jefferson was an opponent of the church, because of his proposed laws for the separation between church and State, however, this is far from the truth. Thomas Jefferson himself was very religious and observed the tenants of the Anglian faith.
Thomas Jefferson along with Reverend John Todd and Reverend Caleb Wallace acknowledged concerns that “the church would become dependent upon the state for financial support, which in turn, would compromise the duties and convictions they owed their blessed Savior.” (Beliles & Anderson, 2005, p. 70). Likewise, another ally of Thomas Jefferson’s efforts in advocating for the separation between Church and State, Reverend William Irvin, drafted Petition of Dissenters in Albemarle, and Amherst Counties which included both Anglicans and dissenter “to put pressure on the legislature to put every religious denomination on equal footing, to be supported by themselves independent of another.” (Beliles & Anderson, 2005, p. 70) The main concern was that if the State is required and responsible for the financial support of the church, then there would be censorship, government regulation and dictatorship of “who shall preach; when and where they shall preach; and what they must preach.” (Beliles & Anderson, 2005, p. 71). While Thomas Jefferson made no compunction about his Christian beliefs and its place and influence in government, he was a strong proponent for the separation between Church and State. He believed that religious freedom and the ability to worship without suppression or undue influence by the government was paramount to the tenants of the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. References: 1. https://www.britannica.com/video/172150/overview-Founding-Fathers 2. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jeffdec.html
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