In the early 1900s, France was grappling with the influence of the Catholic Church on its society and governance. The push for a separation of church and state intensified amidst rising secularism and concerns about clericalism. The French Parliament, with the support of legislators like Émile Combes, drafted a bill aimed at promoting secularism and limiting the Church's authority over public life. The law was passed on December 9, 1905, and it officially proclaimed the 'separation of the Churches and the State,' establishing that the state would not recognize any religion and would no longer finance religious activities.

The law resulted in the nationalization of church property and the removal of religious symbols from public spaces, reflecting the desire for a neutral state devoid of religious favoritism. Religious organizations had to operate independently without state support, fundamentally altering the landscape of religious practice in France. The separation was accompanied by significant opposition from the Catholic Church and its supporters, leading to tensions between secular and religious factions throughout the nation.

This legislation not only solidified secularism in France but also influenced similar movements in other nations worldwide, highlighting the global struggle for religious freedom and the role of religion in politics. The French model of church-state separation became a reference point for debates over secularism, informing policies and legal structures in various countries seeking to balance religion and governance.