Our American Stories The Unlikely Alliance that Secured Religious Freedom
Feb 16, 2026
John Ragosta, historian at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, tells the surprising story behind religious liberty in Virginia. He recounts persecution of Baptists, Jefferson’s unconventional faith, and the political alliance with evangelicals. The narrative follows drafting the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the fight against church-supported taxation.
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Persecution Sparked A Foundational Idea
- Religious persecution of dissenters in Virginia fueled a broader push for separation of church and state.
- Jefferson framed religious freedom as protecting individual conscience and civic harmony.
Jefferson's Personal Religion
- Jefferson remained formally Anglican but rejected core Christian doctrines and developed a personal theism.
- He studied other religions and insisted conscience must guide belief, not imposed creeds.
Establishment Meant Taxation And Control
- Colonial governments taxed everyone to support an established church, forcing dissenters to fund clergy they didn't follow.
- State-supported religion also controlled civic rights and even orphan care to promote conformity.