The Danbury Baptist Association, aware of Jefferson’s earlier role in overturning the Anglican establishment in Virginia, expressed hope that as president he might help liberate them from the religious constraints in Connecticut. Jefferson’s response, in which he employs the famous “wall of separation between church and state” metaphor, is not a demand for the separation of religion and politics; rather, it addresses the principle of federalism. As president, Jefferson is unable to interfere in this state issue. Likewise, Congress is prohibited from doing so by the First Amendment’s religion clauses. The citizens of Connecticut must remedy their situation by amending their state constitution and statutes–as eventually they did.

January 1, 1802

Gentlemen:

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing. Believing with you good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing. Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall seewith sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem.


  1. Thomas Jefferson, “Replies to Public Addresses,” January 1, 1802, in A. A. Lipscomb and A. E. Bergh, eds., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 16 (Washington, D.C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1907), 281-82.  Reprinted from The U.S. Constitution, A Reader, Published by Hillsdale College
1 reply
  1. ron
    ron says:

    this is a vary enlightening letter of what I think the founders were about in their thinking of how the country should be ran, I find it rather troublesome that in todays education system and teachings that these things are over looked or down played. The lame brain media needs to go back to school and educate them selves on what this country should be about and see what they have done the people over the last several decades by down playing or ignoring histories lessons. I am so happy your are educating all of us with these letters and essays i see here. My native American heritage has at times given me pause to have to really think about this country and whats happened to it and my people, I do see the attempt to educate us in the ways of civilized man in our past not understanding exactly what was meant by the term, but i am becoming more educated myself as to what the indian did to himself and others did to us in the name of education. At times i look in past at things said to me in schools ran by people who had an anger toward us and it became vary confusing as to what i was supposed to do or act like. Education has dropped to ball over the last more then 60 years i think as they moved toward the left…thanks RON REED

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