Religious Freedom, Newspapers, and Virginians: Common People’s Responses to Separation of Church and State

The two and a half decades following the ending of the American Revolution was filled with change. The formation of government and the ratification of the Constitution at the state and federal levels created spaces where topics were hotly debated. Specifically, religion and its role in the United States government generated much discussion: how much power should religious institutions have within this new country and should this new United States have an established religion? Historians have dissected and analyzed these topics for years. But, how informed were Americans during this period of these conversations which created the bedrock of American government? One conduit which was generally available to the masses was the newspaper. The creation of news and the dissemination of information to the expanding United States created a unique platform for newspaper printers and editors alike, touching all levels of society and politics. Using newspapers printed during this period and focusing specifically on the state of Virginia, this thesis analyzes newspaper content between 1784 – 1808 as a general guide as to what the Virginia common persons would have been exposed to regarding separation of church and state and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Based on the saturation of religion in society at this time, it is surprising to find that Americans were only minimally interested in the separation of church and state discussions happening in Virginia and the greater United States. It was when religious topics shifted into perceived morals and ethics, political campaigns, or the potential for land control through glebe land ownership that Virginians expressed their opinions and reactions to the separation of church and state.