Question

In at least 150 words, compare Thomas Jefferson views on religion as put forth in the Virginia statue for religious freedom to his views on government from the Declaration of Independence.

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson is one of the most renowed thinkers in American history. Jefferson was greatly influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment and the French Revolution. He believed people had inalienable rights that the state needed to protect, as well as respect. These rights included those of equality, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. He discusses these topics both on the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the Declaration of Independence. When he discusses freedom, this includes freedom of religion, which is one of the most important protections offered by the Constitution.

Answer 2

Both in religion and in politics, Thomas Jefferson believed that all men are created equal. Therefore, each man and woman have the right to choose their beliefs and have their own opinions.

In January 1777, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom which established the right of every man and woman to their own religious beliefs and opinions. Nine years later, this bill became the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. This statute was eventually incorporated into the Constitution as the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

As regards the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote a statement of the colonists' right to rebel against the British government and establish their own based on the premise that all men are cretaed equal. In consequence, they have the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. His ultimate goal was to express the unity of Americans against the tyranny of Britain.