Sobol 1

Shira Sobol

Ms. Diane Nicoll

8th Grade History

October 31, 2017

Separation of Church and State in America

The significance of Jefferson’s ​Statute for Religious Freedom​ can be seen as a forerunner

of the 1st Amendment, and how the phrase of, “Separation of church and state” has a purpose to

it and where its origins come from, as well as understanding the differing views of the separation

of church and state in the US. Firstly, the origins of separation of church and state in America is

crucial to the founding of the 1st Amendment. Secondly, understanding the purpose of religious

freedom and why it is so essential to people's lives as individuals. Thirdly, viewing the differing

opinions of separation of church and state in the United States today. Lastly, it is important to

understand the origins of religious freedom, and how it all started!

The origins of religious freedom come from the famous political philosopher Thomas

Jefferson. Jefferson’s philosophy was that he specifically wanted to prevent the U.S. government

from implementing a state religion like back in England, because it turned out to lead to

corruption of government, and that is something Jefferson did not want happening to the

American government. He believed that everyone has the right to worship whomever they wish

to, and a certain religion, or religion in general should not be enforced among the people. He

believed that everyone should have the freedom to believe, say, and do whatever they want

relating to their religion, ethnicity, and cultural beliefs. So, Jefferson created his ​“Statute of

Religious Freedom.” ​This statute was known as an act in which Thomas Jefferson established
 Sobol 2

religious freedom. Under this act anyone could follow any religion they wanted to and not worry

about getting in trouble. Also, if a person did not want to practice a religion, they did not have to,

because no religion, or religion in general was enforced among the people. This statute can be

seen as a forerunner to the 1st Amendment, in which will be mentioned later in the essay. Now,

the actual phrase of “Separation of church and state” did not come about until 1802 when it was

used by Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists. The Danbury Baptist Association of sent a

letter, dated October 7, 1801, to the newly elected President Thomas Jefferson, expressing

concern over the lack in their state constitution of explicit protection of religious liberty, and

against a government establishment of religion. So, Jefferson responded to their concerns in a

letter by mentioning “wall of separation” (Bergh). This phrase was saying that this wall had been

erected to protect them, so they do not need to fear about the statute. The metaphor was used

exclusively to keep the state out of the church's business, not to keep the church out of the state's

business. The origins of the separation between church and state are crucial, in fact, in

Jefferson’s​ Statute for Religious Freedom​, it mentions its purpose, and why it is important that

the church and state are separated.

Jefferson believed that religious freedom had a huge purpose to the people and their

individual rights. Firstly, religious freedom allows people to have freedom to follow whatever

religion they want in America and not get in trouble by government for doing so. In fact, if you

did not believe in God or any religion, you were not enforced by government to practice one if

you did not want to. Secondly, religious freedom was crucial to the people because it protected

them in several different ways. Religious freedom protected peoples rights to religion meaning,

they could do whatever they wanted related to religion (as long as the community was safe), and
 Sobol 3

not have to worry about being prosecuted by government. This statute protected not only the

people themselves, but their rights as humans too. Lastly, the most important point to remember

is that because of Jefferson’s statute for religious freedom, people now have the 1st Amendment

in the Constitution which states that, ​"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of

religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the

press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a

redress of grievances"(“First Amendment Rights”). The 1st Amendment ensures that people are

born with religious freedom, and it can not be taken away from them. If it was not for Jefferson’s

statute, who knows if people nowadays would have religious freedom and the right to practice or

not practice any religion they want to? The purpose of separation of church and state is important

to people's individual rights today in America. Although majority of the people in the United

States believe in and support the idea that church and state is separated, there are many differing

views of this topic.

There are many differing views on the phrase “separation of church and state.” Religious

activists like very religious christians believe that today in America church and state is not

separated for several reasons. However, atheist activists believe that church and state in America

is clearly separated. Some people support the idea of separating state from church, but others

think otherwise. Conservative people view that in America today church and state are not

separated because in the​ Declaration of Independence​ it stated “God” several times, and very

religious Christians believe that the framers of the Constitution misinterpreted the ​Declaration of

Independence​, and really there is not separation of church and state in America today. They also

believe that because on the dollar bill it states “God Bless America” church and state are not
 Sobol 4

separated (Epps). And some other very religious Christians believe that if we do not combine

church and state enough America is going to go to hell. On the other hand, liberals view that

church and state are clearly separated in America today, and they support this idea 100%.

Liberals and Democrats believe that it is better to make sure church and state are separated from

each other instead of enforcing a religion like in England because they assumed that by forcing a

religion, it would lead to corruption of government and rebellion from the people, and that is

something the US government wanted to stay away from. Therefore they think that by separating

church and state and letting everyone have their religious freedom to practice whatever religion

they want to, they are helping America thrive and succeed.

As you can see, there are many differing views of separation between church and state,

but the origins and purpose of separation of church and state is important to remember because it

is what motivated Thomas Jefferson to write the ​Statute for Religious Freedom​ which then led to

the 1st Amendment which is crucial to our individual rights today. Firstly, the origins of

separation between state and church can be seen in Jefferson’s philosophy, his ​Statute for

Religious Freedom​, and in his letter to the Baptists from Danbury. Secondly, there would be no

point in having religious freedoms if there was not a purpose to them. The purpose of this was

that it allowed people to be free, while still protected their rights, and can be seen as a forerunner

to the 1st Amendment in the Constitution. Thirdly, there are several different opinions people

have towards the idea of separation between church and state. Some support the separation,

while others clearly do not. All in all, thanks to Thomas Jefferson and his statute, we now have

the 1st Amendment in the ​Bill of Rights​ in which we the people, got our religious freedoms in

which are crucial to our individual rights. In addition, the origins and purpose of the phrase of
 Sobol 5

separation of church and state is essential to American history because of its origins and purpose

in which can still be seen now in our day to day lives.

 Sobol 6

Works Cited

Bergh, Albert. “Letters between the Danbury Baptists and Thomas Jefferson.” ​Wallbuilders,

December 29, 2016, ​https://wallbuilders.com/letters-danbury-baptists-thomas-jefferson/​.

Epps, Garrett. “Constitutional Myth #4: The Constitution Doesn't Separate Church and State.”

The Atlantic, ​June 15, 2011, ​www.theatlantic.com​.

“First Amendment Rights.” ​UShistory, ​2007, ​http://www.ushistory.org/gov/10b.asp​.