Memorial And Remonstrance Against Religious Freedom Analysis

James Madison’s “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” which appeared half of a decade after Jefferson’s “Bill for establishing Religious Freedom,” is an expressive piece defending what he believes is necessary for religious freedom. This article was drafted as a protestation against “[a] bill establishing a provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion,” the goal of which Madison argues is a misuse of governmental power. This remonstrance by Madison is dated June 20, 1785, placing it nearly ten years after the declaration of Independence and a couple of years before the US Constitution. This means that the document was written after the American Revolution, but preceded the United States Constitution - unlike Jefferson’s “Letter to the Danbury Baptists,” which was written some time later.
This remonstrance was directed to the General Assembly of Commonwealth of Virginia on behalf of the citizens of the state and in defense of what Madison argues is the correct adherence to the laws protecting freedom of belief. Madison outlines fourteen arguments against the establishing of the …show more content…
Through Jefferson’s and Madison’s arguments for religious liberty as a natural right, the case for the necessity of religious freedom has been established at the origin of what our country stands for. While Jefferson focused on the religious rights of the individual and Madison appeared more concerned about the larger scale consequences of religion and government mingling, both pushed for a separation of church and state, believing it to be the best safeguard against restrictions of natural religious rights. Their varied perspectives form a varied and multifaceted case for religious liberty. Jefferson and Madison both argued for the religious rights of the individual and the prevention of government