Religious Freedom in 13 Colonies

331 Words2 Pages
Analyze the extent to which religious freedom existed in the British North American colonies prior to 1700. Prior to 1700 there was some form of religious tolerance in the Southern and Middle colonies while the New England colonies showed strict religious intolerance. There was hardly any religious tolerance in the New England colonies which was inhabited mostly by Puritans. After separating from the Church of England many of them moved to the New World in order to escape prosecution. The forming of towns and communities together with their strict beliefs, lead to this superior number of Puritans. Because the land in the North was mostly infertile, people moved there to live their religious beliefs rather than for economic reasons which was the case in the South. Rhode Island, founded by the outcast Roger Williams, was the only colony that established complete religious freedom (also for Catholics and Jews) in New England. The Middle colonies had a remarkably high religious tolerance and democratic control; however, Jews and Catholics were not allowed to vote, due to pressure from London. This area was mostly inhabited by Quakers, that saw no threat from other religious groups. Religion did not play a very important role in the Southern colonies because the people living there were mostly individual young men that traveled to the New World because of economic reasons and to make money. Although they tax-supported the Church of England (except for North Carolina) there was religious freedom to some extent. The distribution of the plantations and farms all over the country, in contrast to dense population and cities, also made it more difficult and expensive to establish churches. Catholic Maryland ensured religious freedom to all Christians which was exceptional since most Catholics were being prosecuted. So in general the New England colonies were the
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