Changes

'''Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments''' is the primary legislation on [[religious freedom]] and [[separation of church and state]] by [[James Madison]], the primary author of the [[U.S. Constitution]], and was an influence in the passing of [[Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson's]] [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]], which was written years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://virginiahumanities.org/2012/03/james-madison-religious-freedom |title=Is James Madison Still Speaking to Us About Religious Freedom? |last1=Ragosta |first1=John |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[Virginia Foundation for the Humanities]] |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/petitions/rpessay3.html |title=Petitioning in Eighteenth-Century Virginia: The Church and State Debate |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[Library of Congress]] |publisher=[[American Memory]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> Together the two early documents defined [[Freedom of religion in the United States|religious freedom in the United States]] and restricted government intrusion in religious matters<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/livingrev/religion/text2/text2read.htm |title=Reading Guide: 2. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on Religious Freedom |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=2003 |website=[[National Humanities Center]] |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite book |last=Fea |first=John |date=2011 |title=Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiM3uZHx6VgC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139 |location=Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |page=139 |isbn=9780664235048 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite book |last=Patrick |first=John J. |date=1995 |title=Founding the Republic: A Documentary History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bPvq0-taGAEC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77 |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=77 |isbn=0313292264 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> while serving as a precursor for the [[First Amendment]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Bruce T. |date=2008 |title=Religious Liberty in America: The First Amendment in Historical and Contemporary Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlJ-lHw7ifcC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11 |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Foundation for American Communications |page=11 |isbn=9781558496385 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

'''Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments''' is the primary legislation on [[religious freedom]] and [[separation of church and state]] by [[James Madison]], the primary author of the [[U.S. Constitution]], and was an influence in the passing of [[Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson's]] [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]], which was written years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://virginiahumanities.org/2012/03/james-madison-religious-freedom |title=Is James Madison Still Speaking to Us About Religious Freedom? |last1=Ragosta |first1=John |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[Virginia Foundation for the Humanities]] |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/petitions/rpessay3.html |title=Petitioning in Eighteenth-Century Virginia: The Church and State Debate |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[Library of Congress]] |publisher=[[American Memory]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> Together the two early documents defined [[Freedom of religion in the United States|religious freedom in the United States]] and restricted government intrusion in religious matters<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/livingrev/religion/text2/text2read.htm |title=Reading Guide: 2. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on Religious Freedom |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=2003 |website=[[National Humanities Center]] |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite book |last=Fea |first=John |date=2011 |title=Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiM3uZHx6VgC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139 |location=Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |page=139 |isbn=9780664235048 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite book |last=Patrick |first=John J. |date=1995 |title=Founding the Republic: A Documentary History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bPvq0-taGAEC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77 |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=77 |isbn=0313292264 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> while serving as a precursor for the [[First Amendment]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Bruce T. |date=2008 |title=Religious Liberty in America: The First Amendment in Historical and Contemporary Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlJ-lHw7ifcC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11 |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Foundation for American Communications |page=11 |isbn=9781558496385 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

The legislation was drafted in the [[Virginia State Legislature]] on June 20, 1785, and passed on January 16, 1786.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/god-in-the-white-house/ |title=God in America: God in the White House - James Madison 1809-1817 |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[PBS]] |publisher=[[WTTW]] 11 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite journal |journal=Atlantic Monthly |publisher=[[The Atlantic]] |volume=274 |issue=6 |pages=112–124 |doi= |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/96oct/obrien/peterson.htm |title=Jefferson and Religious Freedom |last1=Peterson |first1=Merrill D. |last2= |first2= |date=1994 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> The purpose of the legislation was to prevent a statewide tax proposed by [[Patrick Henry]] in support of [[Christianity]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/study-guide/two.html |title=God In America Study Guide: A New Eden (Episode 2) |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[PBS]] [[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]] |publisher=[[WGBH Educational Foundation]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.milestonedocuments.com/documents/view/james-madisons-memorial-and-remonstrance-against-religious-assessments |title=James Madison: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments |last1=Ragosta |first1=John A. |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Milestone Documents |publisher=Schlager Group |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> at a time when most colonies had a [[state religion]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crimm |first1=Nina J. |last2=Winer |first2=Laurence H. |date=2011 |title=Politics, Taxes, and the Pulpit: Provocative First Amendment Conflicts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9BMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82 |location=New York, New York |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |pages=78–82 |isbn=9780195388053 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.milestonedocuments.com/documents/view/james-madisons-memorial-and-remonstrance-against-religious-assessments/context |title=James Madison: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments - Context |last1=Ragosta |first1=John A. |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Milestone Documents |publisher=Schlager Group |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> [[Virginia]] for example was governed by the [[Anglican]] state church during the [[Christianity in the 18th century|18th century]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Curry |first=James A. |last2=Riley |first2=Richard B. |last3=Battistoni |first3=Richard M. |last4=Blakeman |first4=John C. |date=2000 |title=The American Constitutional Experience: Selected Readings & Supreme Court Opinions  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vRshPC3pkWEC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149 |location= |publisher=Kendall Hunt Publishing Company |page=149 |isbn=0787257605 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> and kept [[Baptists]] and other minority [[Christian denomination|denominations]] from running for office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.org/almanack/life/religion/religiondfn.cfm |title=The Anglican Church in Virginia |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=History.org |publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://uscivilliberties.org/historical-overview/4083-madisons-remonstrance-1785.html |title=Madison’s Remonstrance (1785) |last1=Urofsky |first1=Melvin I. |last2= |first2= |date=July 26, 2012 |website=USCivilLiberties.org |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite journal |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2010 |title=The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: The Road to the First Amendment |url=http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-26-1-the-virginia-statute-for-religious-freedom.html |journal=Bill of Rights in Action |publisher=Constitutional Rights Foundation |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages= |doi= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> The jailing of the [[Danbury Baptists]] in particular united Jefferson and Madison in opposition to laws mandating state religions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/sepchust.htm |title=The Separation of Church and State from the American Revolution to the Early Republic |last1=Heyrman |first1=Christine Leigh |last2= |first2= |date= |website=TeacherServe |publisher=[[National Humanities Center]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

The legislation was drafted in the [[Virginia State Legislature]] on June 20, 1785, and passed on January 16, 1786.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/god-in-the-white-house/ |title=God in America: God in the White House - James Madison 1809-1817 |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[PBS]] |publisher=[[WTTW]] 11 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite journal |journal=Atlantic Monthly |publisher=[[The Atlantic]] |volume=274 |issue=6 |pages=112–124 |doi= |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/96oct/obrien/peterson.htm |title=Jefferson and Religious Freedom |last1=Peterson |first1=Merrill D. |last2= |first2= |date=1994 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> The purpose of the legislation was to prevent a statewide tax proposed by [[Patrick Henry]] in support of [[Christianity]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/study-guide/two.html |title=God In America Study Guide: A New Eden (Episode 2) |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=[[PBS]] [[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]] |publisher=[[WGBH Educational Foundation]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.milestonedocuments.com/documents/view/james-madisons-memorial-and-remonstrance-against-religious-assessments |title=James Madison: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments |last1=Ragosta |first1=John A. |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Milestone Documents |publisher=Schlager Group |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> at a time when most colonies had a [[state religion]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crimm |first1=Nina J. |last2=Winer |first2=Laurence H. |date=2011 |title=Politics, Taxes, and the Pulpit: Provocative First Amendment Conflicts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9BMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82 |location=New York, New York |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |pages=78–82 |isbn=9780195388053 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.milestonedocuments.com/documents/view/james-madisons-memorial-and-remonstrance-against-religious-assessments/context |title=James Madison: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments - Context |last1=Ragosta |first1=John A. |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Milestone Documents |publisher=Schlager Group |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> [[Virginia]] for example was governed by the [[Anglican]] state church during the [[Christianity in the 18th century|18th century]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Curry |first=James A. |last2=Riley |first2=Richard B. |last3=Battistoni |first3=Richard M. |last4=Blakeman |first4=John C. |date=2000 |title=The American Constitutional Experience: Selected Readings & Supreme Court Opinions  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vRshPC3pkWEC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149 |location= |publisher=Kendall Hunt Publishing Company |page=149 |isbn=0787257605 |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> and kept [[Baptists]] and other minority [[Christian denomination|denominations]] from running for office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.org/almanack/life/religion/religiondfn.cfm |title=The Anglican Church in Virginia |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=History.org |publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://uscivilliberties.org/historical-overview/4083-madisons-remonstrance-1785.html |title=Madison’s Remonstrance (1785) |last1=Urofsky |first1=Melvin I. |last2= |first2= |date=July 26, 2012 |website=USCivilLiberties.org |publisher= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}<br>{{cite journal |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2010 |title=The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: The Road to the First Amendment |url=http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-26-1-the-virginia-statute-for-religious-freedom.html |journal=Bill of Rights in Action |publisher=Constitutional Rights Foundation |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages= |doi= |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> The jailing of the [[Danbury Baptists]] in particular united Jefferson and Madison in opposition to laws mandating state religions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/sepchust.htm |title=The Separation of Church and State from the American Revolution to the Early Republic |last1=Heyrman |first1=Christine Leigh |last2= |first2= |date= |website=TeacherServe |publisher=[[National Humanities Center]] |accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Text of Statute==

==Text of Statute==