Where does the phrase “separation of church and state” come from?

Question

the Declaration of Independence
the Declaration of Independence

the First Amendment to the Constitution
the First Amendment to the Constitution

a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists
a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists

a speech Jefferson gave to the Congregational Church
a speech Jefferson gave to the Congregational Church

Answer 1

The phrase “separation of church and state” originates from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists in 1802. In this letter, Jefferson expressed his belief that the government should not interfere in religious matters and that there should be a "wall of separation between church and state." While the concept is rooted in the First Amendment to the Constitution, the exact phrase itself is attributed to Jefferson's letter.