Although it wasn’t actually passed into law until 1786, Thomas Jefferson’s bill for establishing religious freedom in Virginia was printed “for the consideration of the PEOPLE” shortly after it was introduced in the Virginia legislature in 1779.
One of the things that Thomas Jefferson most wished to be remembered for was his bill for religious freedom in Virginia. In it, he not only stated that people’s beliefs should not impact their civil rights in any way, but he explained why. “Almighty God hath created the mind free,” he said, and rather than compelling everyone to believe the same thing, “as was in his Almighty power to do,” God allows us to believe as we see fit — and if He doesn’t force belief on us, then why should we force it on each other? Furthermore, trying to force people to conform to a particular set of religious beliefs leads to “hypocrisy and meanness,” as people conform outwardly but insincerely in order to get rewards or avoid punishment.
The Great Seal of the United States, which can be seen on the back of a dollar bill, includes an eagle and a pyramid. The original proposed design was very different; as shown in this note by Thomas Jefferson, it included the story of Moses parting — or rather, closing — the Red Sea, and a rather defiant motto.
One of the first things that the Continental Congress did after declaring independence was to appoint a committee to come up with a “great seal” for the United States — a design that would officially symbolize the new republic. What with everything else going on, it was August 20 before the committee reported back and presented their recommendation.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence
After the Continental Congress set a date to decide whether to declare independence, they appointed five men to draft a formal declaration that could be published to the world. They wanted to be ready ahead of time so that they could move quickly if the decision was made. One of those five was Thomas Jefferson.
The other members of the committee — John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston — chose Jefferson to be the writer. During the month of June, he worked on writing a declaration that would show to the world why they were deciding to become independent. At the same time, he was working on a constitution for Virginia, and of course he had other Congressional duties as well.
After he finished writing it, the document was reviewed by the other members of the committee. Adams and Franklin made some minor changes. The committee reported to Congress on Friday, June 28, and the declaration was “laid on the table”.
Richard Henry Lee was the one who made the motion in the Continental Congress for independence.
Independence had been talked about more and more for several months, but June 7, 1776, was the day that forced the issue to a debate, when Richard Henry Lee of Virginia made a motion in the Continental Congress:
That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
Thomas Jefferson, John Dickinson, and Richard Henry Lee. Jefferson and Dickinson wrote the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity for Taking Up Arms; Dickinson wrote the Olive Branch Petition; and Lee was probably the main author of the Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain.
In general, American political leaders wanted peace — but they were determined to keep fighting, if necessary, in order to protect their liberties. They wanted to be united with Britain, but they also wanted to enjoy the same rights as the people in Britain did. So, in early July 1775, the Continental Congress published a declaration of why they had taken up arms against the British, a petition asking King George III to step in and solve the problem, and an address asking the British people to stand up for them. Here are some excerpts from these documents:
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity for Taking Up Arms
We are reduced to the alternative of chusing an unconditional Submission to the tyranny of irritated Ministers, or resistance by Force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary Slavery. Honour, Justice, and Humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that Freedom which we received from our gallant Ancestors, and which our innocent Posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding Generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary Bondage upon them.
Second Petition to the King (a.k.a. Olive Branch Petition)
We therefore beseech your Majesty, that your royal authority and influence may be graciously interposed to procure us releif from our afflicting fears and jealousies occasioned by the system before mentioned, and to settle peace through every part of your dominions, with all humility submitting to your Majesty’s wise consideration, whether it may not be expedient for facilitating those important purposes, that your Majesty be pleased to direct some mode by which the united applications of your faithful colonists to the throne, in pursuance of their common councils, may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation; and that in the meantime measures be taken for preventing the further destruction of the lives of your Majesty’s subjects; and that such statutes as more immediately distress any of your Majestys colonies be repealed…
Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain
A Cloud hangs over your Heads and ours; ‘ere this reaches you, it may probably burst upon us; let us then (before the remembrance of former Kindness is obliterated) once more repeat those Appellations which are ever grateful in our Ears; let us entreat Heaven to avert our Ruin, and the Destruction that threatens our Friends, Brethren and Countrymen, on the other side of the Atlantic.
For more about these documents, see July 6 and July 8.
