<P> Jefferson 's metaphor of a wall of separation has been cited repeatedly by the U.S. Supreme Court . In Reynolds v. United States ( 1879 ) the Court wrote that Jefferson 's comments `` may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the ( First ) Amendment . '' In Everson v. Board of Education ( 1947 ) , Justice Hugo Black wrote : `` In the words of Thomas Jefferson , the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state . '' </P>
<P> Jefferson 's metaphor of a wall of separation has been cited repeatedly by the U.S. Supreme Court . In Reynolds v. United States ( 1879 ) the Court wrote that Jefferson 's comments `` may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the ( First ) Amendment . '' In Everson v. Board of Education ( 1947 ) , Justice Hugo Black wrote : `` In the words of Thomas Jefferson , the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state . '' </P>
who wrote that he hoped to erect a wall of separation between church and state
who wrote that he hoped to erect a wall of separation between church and state
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson