George Washington letter on religious liberty

E818039

The George Washington letter on religious liberty is a historic 1790 correspondence to the Hebrew congregation in Newport affirming the United States’ commitment to religious freedom and equal citizenship for people of all faiths.

All labels observed (4)

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Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historical document
letter
primary source
addressedTo Jews of Newport, Rhode Island
Touro Synagogue congregation
affirms Equal citizenship regardless of faith
United States commitment to religious freedom
alsoKnownAs George Washington’s Newport letter
Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport
Newport letter
author George Washington
countryOfOrigin United States of America
dateWritten 1790-08-18
documentType presidential letter
genre official correspondence
hasDigitalVersion Yes
historicalContext Washington’s visit to Newport, Rhode Island in 1790
historicalPeriod Early American Republic
inCollection George Washington Papers
influencedBy Enlightenment ideas on religious toleration
keyIdea Government gives no sanction to bigotry
Jews are entitled to full civil and religious rights as citizens
Religious liberty is a natural right, not a favor from government
United States offers equal liberty to all religious denominations
keyPhrase "everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree"
"to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance"
language English
officeHeldByAuthorAtTime President of the United States
placeWritten Newport, Rhode Island
politicalContext First years of the United States Constitution
Presidency of George Washington
preservedAt Library of Congress
Touro Synagogue archives
linked to: Touro Synagogue
quotedIn U.S. Supreme Court opinions and legal scholarship
recipient Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island
relatedTo First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Moses Seixas letter to George Washington
Touro Synagogue
United States Bill of Rights
linked to: Bill of Rights
significance Early federal affirmation of Jewish equality in the United States
Foundational text for American concept of religious liberty
Frequently cited in legal and historical discussions of religious freedom
topic Jewish American history
church–state relations
equal citizenship
freedom of religion
minority rights
religious liberty
usedIn ceremonies at Touro Synagogue
yearWritten 1790

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Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Touro Synagogue significantEvent George Washington letter on religious liberty
Sephardic Jewish community of Newport associatedWithDocument George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport
linked to: George Washington letter on religious liberty
George Washington letter on religious liberty alsoKnownAs George Washington’s Newport letter
linked to: George Washington letter on religious liberty
George Washington letter on religious liberty relatedTo Moses Seixas letter to George Washington
linked to: George Washington letter on religious liberty