French National Assembly
“The Jews should be denied everything as a nation, but granted everything as individuals…it should not be tolerated that the Jews become a separate political formation or class in the country. Every one of them must individually become a citizen; if they do not want this, they must inform us and we shall then be compelled to expel them. The existence of a nation within a nation is unacceptable to our country.”
--Comte de Clermont-Tonnerre, 1789
American Emancipation, key texts
“religious opinions and beliefs shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect civil capacities”
--"Virginia Statue on Religious Liberty," Thomas Jefferson 1786
“no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the United States”
--US Constitution, 1787
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
--1st Amendment to US Constitution, 1791