Exhibit 523

James Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments

Exhibit 523 · Petition

James Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments

During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial.

Argues against the 1784 bill establishing a provision for teachers of the Christian religion; paragraph 7 says experience shows establishments have had a contrary effect on religion.

Source: James Madison (petition to the Virginia General Assembly)
Date: 20 June 1785
Quoted from: Paragraph 7 (Papers of James Madison 8:298-304)
Grade: Primary record
Document: https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions43.html
Accessed: 2026-11-09
Cited by: Findings citing this exhibit
Note: Advocacy text; report as his argument.

Cited by

Finding REL-2.8: Primary record In November 1784 the Virginia House of Delegates agreed, 47 to 32, that the people ought to pay a moderate annual tax for the support of the Christian religion or of some Christian church, and in January 1786 the General Assembly enacted that no man "shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever."