religious freedom – The UncommonWealth

Archives Education & Programming

“That the Oppressed May Go Free” : A Petition to the Virginia General Assembly for Religious Freedom

During the summer of 1776, members of Virginia's last Revolutionary Convention adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Among the principles of representative government and fundamental…

Mari JulienneSeptember 21, 2022

Education & Programming Newspapers

Old Time Religion: Virginia’s First Freedom and LVA’s Religious Press Collection

The current exhibit at the Library of Virginia, First Freedom: Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom, explores the meaning and evolution of this significant legislation. Written…

Kelley EwingAugust 3, 2016

Archives Education & Programming

First Freedom: The Great Sabbath Debate, Part 2

In last week’s blog post, we learned about the efforts of two Richmond businessmen who lobbied to add an exception for non-Christians to Virginia’s Sabbath…

Vince BrooksApril 27, 2016

Archives Education & Programming

First Freedom: The Great Sabbath Debate, Part 1

The passage of the Statute for Religious Freedom by the General Assembly in 1786 guaranteed religious freedom to people of all faiths. However, Quakers, Mennonites,…

Greg CrawfordApril 20, 2016

Archives Conservation

First Freedom: Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom

The official enrolled parchment of 16 January 1786, An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, is one of the most important archival records preserved in the…

Brent TarterApril 13, 2016

Archives Education & Programming

“Let Jews, Mehometans, and Christians of every Denomination Enjoy Religious Liberty”

Religious liberty is a hot button issue during this year’s presidential campaign. Should a religious test be applied for the purpose of denying Muslims entrance…

Greg CrawfordMarch 30, 2016