Milestone Documents in American History
You don't have access to this content. Please try to log in with your institution. Sign In
Description
Table of contents
Chapters
During the American Revolution, Virginia made dramatic strides in the development of religious freedom. As a colony, Virginia had an established church—the Church of England—supported by establishment taxes; in the years leading up to the Revolution, the colony jailed scores of “dissenting” ministers who preached without a license, primarily Baptists. With the adoption of Article XVI of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), Virginia promised a “free exercise of religion.” By the end of 1776 taxes for the established church were suspended, and in 1779 they were repealed. Other reforms eliminated many regulations and limitations to which dissenting religionists had been subjected.
During the American Revolution, Virginia made dramatic strides in the development of religious freedom. As a colony, Virginia had an established church—the Church of England—supported by establishment taxes; in the years leading up to the Revolution, the colony jailed scores of “dissenting” ministers who preached without a license, primarily Baptists. With the adoption of Article XVI of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), Virginia promised a “free exercise of religion.” By the end of 1776 taxes for the established church were suspended, and in 1779 they were repealed. Other reforms eliminated many regulations and limitations to which dissenting religionists had been subjected.
