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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>

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom restricted religious discrimination such as that which occurred later against against the [[Danbury Baptists]] - it is Jefferson's sympathetic return letter to them famous for originating the phrase "separation of church and state".<ref>Mount, Steve. "[http://www.usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html Jefferson's Wall of Separation Letter]." USConstitution.net.</ref><ref>Jefferson, Thomas (1802, January 1). "[http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists]." Library of Congress.</ref> Passage of the legislation capped a decade-long campaign to disestablish the [[Church of England]], which had been the official state church for the colony since 1607. According to the Library of Virginia,

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom restricted religious discrimination such as that which occurred later against against the [[Danbury Baptists]] - it is Jefferson's sympathetic return letter to them famous for originating the phrase "separation of church and state".<ref>Mount, Steve. "[http://www.usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html Jefferson's Wall of Separation Letter]." USConstitution.net.</ref><ref>Jefferson, Thomas (1802, January 1). "[http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists]." Library of Congress.</ref> Passage of the legislation capped a decade-long campaign to disestablish the [[Church of England]], which had been the official state church for the colony since 1607. According to the Library of Virginia,