Who protection for free exercise of religion shows the influence of a document written by?

Answer 1

The protection for the free exercise of religion in the United States primarily stems from the First Amendment to the Constitution, which embodies principles influenced by the Enlightenment and earlier documents, particularly the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom authored by Thomas Jefferson. This statute emphasized the importance of individual liberty and the separation of church and state, laying the groundwork for the religious freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. Thus, the influence of Jefferson’s work is evident in the constitutional framework that safeguards religious practices.