Which 1786 statute established separation of church and state in Virginia?

• A. Virginia Bill of Rights
• B. Religious Toleration Act
• C. Establishment Clause
• D. Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

Answer: (D)

This question tests how Virginia moved toward separating religion from government by ending an official state church and protecting individuals’ freedom of conscience. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, enacted in 1786, declares that no person should be compelled to attend, support, or profess any religion, and it disestablished the Church of England as the state church in Virginia. This set a clear precedent for religious liberty and government neutrality in matters of faith, laying groundwork later echoed in the First Amendment’s protections.

The other options reflect different steps or contexts. The Religious Toleration Act allowed Christians of various denominations to worship freely but did not end the establishment of a state church. The Virginia Bill of Rights includes protections for religious freedom but does not accomplish disestablishment. The Establishment Clause is part of the federal Constitution, not a Virginia statute.