The Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty of 1786

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The Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty of 1786 called for a complete separation of church and state, preventing the government from any involvement in or endorsement of religious matters. This was a landmark law that served as a model for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which would similarly prohibit Congress from establishing a national religion or restricting citizens' freedom to worship as they choose. The statute was written by Thomas Jefferson, not James Madison, and did not give any religious denominations special privileges within the state, nor did it apply only to Christian denominations.