Religious Freedom

8 Short Facts About George Washington #2

Our country's founder was a strung believer in religious freedom. Any doubts that this might not have been the case are erased when reading Washington's letter to a Hebrew Congregation in Rhode Island. Perhaps the most famous words in the letter were ...

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

Interestingly enough, Joseph J. Ellis says that there is "considerable evidence" that the letter may have been written by Jefferson. (That would be Thomas Jefferson of course.) Still, the letter was delivered by Washington and can be taken as representing his beliefs. Our founders were far more tolerant than many present day Americans.