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Why did the framers of the US constitution work so hard for religious tolerance, why was it such a problem?

How many heretic killings and so on were there in the USA before 1783


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I was just reading a great book on this topic, American Gospel, by Joe Meacham, the editor of Newsweek.

Religious intolerance was a major issue, especially in Massachusetts and Virginia. While there were few outright executions by the 1760s and 1770s, there were still harsh penalties for religious outsiders. People were fined, whipped, imprisoned and even exiled.

The founding fathers, especially Jefferson, recognized the divisive role religion had played in European history and sought to avoid similar problems in the USA.