Where does the phrase “separation of church and state” come from?
(1 point)
Responses

the Declaration of Independence
the Declaration of Independence

the First Amendment to the Constitution
the First Amendment to the Constitution

a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists
a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists

a speech Jefferson gave to the Congregational Church
The phrase "separation of church and state" comes from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists.
a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists
The phrase "separation of church and state" originates from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists on January 1, 1802. In this letter, Jefferson used the phrase to explain his interpretation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In his letter, Jefferson clarified that the First Amendment's clauses on religion were intended to build a wall of separation between church and state, ensuring that the government would not interfere with the religious beliefs and practices of its citizens. This interpretation has since been widely recognized and debated, shaping the understanding and application of the concept of separation of church and state in the United States.
