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====World impact====
====World impact====
The Declaration immediately sparked serious discussion in Europe and Latin America about the legitimacy of empires. By the 21st century, over 100 countries had their own declarations of independence, modeled in part on the very first one by Jefferson in 1776.<ref> Historians discount the influence of previous declarations. David Armitage, ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>
The Declaration immediately sparked serious discussion in Europe and Latin America about the legitimacy of empires. By the 21st century, over 100 countries had their own declarations of independence, modeled in part on the very first one by Jefferson in 1776.<ref> Historians discount the influence of previous declarations. David Armitage, ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>
=== Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom ===
: ''Main Article: [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]]''
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> It is often claimed that Jefferson was not Christian but a [[Deist]] and that his use of the term "Nature's God" in the Declaration of Independence was to a vague concept of a designer or even nature itself.<ref>Voelker, David J. (1993). "[http://history.hanover.edu/hhr/hhr93_1.html Who is Nature's God?]" ''Hanover Historical Review 1''.</ref><ref>Isaacson, Walter (2004, July 5). "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994571,00.html Thomas Jefferson: God of our Fathers]." ''Time Magazine''.</ref> However, such arguments do not mention Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, perhaps because (1) such critics aren't aware of it, or (2) the document very clearly shows Jefferson's beliefs were more refined: {{cquote|An Act for establishing religious Freedom. Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free;
That all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens, or by civil incapacitations tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and therefore are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, who being Lord, both of body and mind yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his Almighty power to do}} Since Thomas Jefferson called William Penn "the greatest law giver the world has produced"<ref name=phmc>Ries, Linda A. & Stewart, Jane S. "[http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/DAM/charter/charter.html This Venerable Document]." Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.</ref> it would seem that whatever his beliefs may have become in later years, he derived his original inspiration from the Christian government of William Penn over a century earlier, the [[Province of Pennsylvania]].
==== Autobiography ====
Jefferson's autobiography provides more insight on the Virginia Statute. Jefferson stated, {{cquote|Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word "Jesus Christ," so that it should read "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion." The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it's protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination.<ref>Jefferson, Thomas (1821, January 6). "[http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/Jefferson/Autobiography.html Autobiography]."</ref>}} Therefore, it appears that this was actually a more liberal statement by not using the name "Jesus Christ" at the time, much moreso than the clearly Christian origins of William Penn a century earlier. The Virginia legislature wanted to ensure all religions were "within the mantle of it's protection". Nevertheless, while it may have protected the beliefs of atheists or "infidel[s]" as Jefferson stated, the references to a Creator show such a belief was requisite for stating inalienable rights accorded by law.
==Reforming Virginia==
==Reforming Virginia==