Question

Thomas Jefferson's bill for establishing religious freedom was similar to the ideas expressed by Isaac Backus, a Baptist leader. What did the bill provide for?

1) Churches to receive tax revenue
2) Elimination of religious requirements for voting and officeholding
3) Americans to join a church
4) Stamping out religious worship

Answer 1

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, provided for the elimination of religious requirements for voting and officeholding, ensuring that citizens could freely express their religious beliefs without impacting their civil rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Jefferson's Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom

Thomas Jefferson's bill, known as the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, was a landmark document in the history of American religious liberty. Drafted in 1777 and enacted in 1786, this statute provided for the elimination of religious requirements for voting and officeholding. It asserted that no individual should be compelled to attend or finance any religious institution or be persecuted for their religious beliefs. Instead, it emphasized that all men should be free to profess their own opinions in matters of religion without impacting their civil rights. The bill played a significant role in the formulation of the religious freedom principles that are enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.