"A Quiet Euthanasia": Thomas Jefferson's Unitarianism and the Role of Religion in Public Education

The role of traditional Protestant religion in American public life was altered dramatically by the rise of Unitarianism. American Unitarianism was theologically and philosophically opposed to many tenants of orthodox Protestant theology and actively sought to eradicate its long-standing influence and authority over the American public. Public education became one of the primary means by which the Unitarian sought to accomplish this goal. Thomas Jefferson, a Unitarian and one of the greatest contributors to the development of public education of his time, saw it as an unparalleled opportunity to gain influence over the minds of America's youth, instill Unitarian ideals, and challenge what he believed to be the public stronghold of protestant orthodoxy. This examination of the Unitarian religious influence on Thomas Jefferson's educational philosophy and practice sheds additional light on the contemporary debate over the proper relationship between religion and American public life.