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The '''Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom''' was written by [[Thomas Jefferson]] in 1777,<ref>Atkinson, Kathleen (2007). "[http://www.has.vcu.edu/soc/rdr/Culture.groups/VirginiaReligiousLibertyHistory.pdf Early Virginians and Religious Freedom for Americans]." ''Virginia Commonwealth University''. The World Religions in Richmond Project.</ref> introduced in the Virginia General Assembly in 1779, and on January 16, 1786 enacted into state law through the assistance of [[James Madison]].<ref>''Virginia Historical Society''. "[http://www.vahistorical.org/onthisday/11686.htm 16 January 1786: Statute for Religious Freedom]." On This Day: Legislative Moments in Virginia History.</ref> The legislation is one of only three accomplishments Jefferson instructed be included in his epitaph.<ref>"[http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/brief-biography-thomas-jefferson Brief Biography of Thomas Jefferson]." The Jefferson Monticello.</ref>

The '''Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom''' was written by [[Thomas Jefferson]] in 1777,<ref>Atkinson, Kathleen (2007). "[http://www.has.vcu.edu/soc/rdr/Culture.groups/VirginiaReligiousLibertyHistory.pdf Early Virginians and Religious Freedom for Americans]." ''Virginia Commonwealth University''. The World Religions in Richmond Project.</ref> introduced in the Virginia General Assembly in 1779, and on January 16, 1786 enacted into state law through the assistance of [[James Madison]].<ref>''Virginia Historical Society''. "[http://www.vahistorical.org/onthisday/11686.htm 16 January 1786: Statute for Religious Freedom]." On This Day: Legislative Moments in Virginia History.</ref> The legislation is one of only three accomplishments Jefferson instructed be included in his epitaph.<ref>"[http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/brief-biography-thomas-jefferson Brief Biography of Thomas Jefferson]." The Jefferson Monticello.</ref>

Jefferson, who authored the phrase, "wall of separation", and Madison, who penned the 1st amendment, thus have both their views represented in this legislation so crucial to today's debate over [[Separation of church and state]].

Jefferson, who authored the phrase, "wall of separation", and Madison, who penned the 1st amendment, thus have both their views represented in this legislation so crucial to today's debate over [[Separation of church and state]].

 

==Background==

==Background==

Written in 1777 and first introduced in 1779, Jefferson's statute was repeatedly allowed to be overlooked in the Virginia Assembly.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Serpentine_Wall/apsuDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA26 The Serpentine Wall]</ref>  However, the issue of religious funding became an issue in 1784, when [[Patrick Henry]] introduced legislation titled "A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion".<ref>[https://classroom.monticello.org/media-item/a-bill-establishing-a-provision-for-teachers-of-the-christian-religion/ A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion]</ref>  [[James Madison]] and others led opposition for this bill<ref>[https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/memorial-and-remonstrance/ Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments]</ref> and culminated in Madison's authorship of the ''Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments''.  As noted by the [[Library of Congress]], "Madison revived it[Jefferson's statute] as an alternative to Henry's general assessment bill and guided it to passage in the Virginia Assembly in January 1786."<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel05.html Religion and the State Governments]</ref>

Written in 1777 and first introduced in 1779, Jefferson's statute was repeatedly allowed to be overlooked in the Virginia Assembly.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Serpentine_Wall/apsuDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA26 The Serpentine Wall]</ref>  However, the issue of religious funding became an issue in 1784, when [[Patrick Henry]] introduced legislation titled "A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion".<ref>[https://classroom.monticello.org/media-item/a-bill-establishing-a-provision-for-teachers-of-the-christian-religion/ A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion]</ref>  [[James Madison]] and others led opposition for this bill<ref>[https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/memorial-and-remonstrance/ Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments]</ref> and culminated in Madison's authorship of the ''Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments''.  As noted by the [[Library of Congress]], "Madison revived it[Jefferson's statute] as an alternative to Henry's general assessment bill and guided it to passage in the Virginia Assembly in January 1786."<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel05.html Religion and the State Governments]</ref>