Colonial FolkwaysThe Development of Religious Toleration

Focus QuestionDefine ‘Religious Freedom’

Widespread ColonizationBy 1775, Britain controlled 32 colonies in

North AmericaSpread from Canada to the Caribbean

Wide Range of DemographicsEthnicityReligionLanguageCustoms

Colonial Regions – New EnglandLargely EnglishPredominantly Congregationalist

Descended from Puritans

Colonial Regions – Middle ColoniesMixed population

English, Dutch, Germans, African, Scots-IrishNew York originally DutchDelaware originally Swedish

Mixed religious denominationsAnglicans, Quakers, Presbyterians,

Calvinists

Regions – Southern ColoniesLargely English and African

Influx of Scots-IrishPredominantly Anglican

Influx of PresbyteriansGeorgia and Debtors

Religious RootsColonial North America had strong

religious rootsAnglican Church supreme in the

Southern ColoniesAll immigrants must conform to

Anglican faithPuritans supreme in much of New

EnglandJoining of Church and State

Cracks in the SystemAnne Hutchinson

Preached to groups of men andwomen

Stressed AntinominismSaved do not need to follow rule

of lawClaimed she received revelation from God

Banished from MassachusettsKilled in a raid by Native Americans

Calverts in MarylandMaryland settled as a haven for Catholics

The Calverts were a prominent English Catholic family

Colonization as providing a refugeReligious Divisions

Later settlers largely AnglicanTrouble between Catholics and

AnglicansAct of Toleration (1649)

Allowed freedom of worship for those who worship the Trinity

Roger Williams in MassachusettsPuritan minister who drifted to the

SeparatistsCalled for a clean break with Church of

EnglandChallenged ties between State and Church

The State was unable to regulate religionsBanished from Massachusetts

Settled in Rhode Island

Rhode IslandWilliams settled Rhode Island with his

followersPromoted his ideas of religion

The state could not determine the faith of citizensCalled for complete religious freedom and

tolerationFirst of its kind in the Americas

William Penn and the QuakersSociety of Friends developed in the 1600s

Promoted fellowship, simplicity, brotherhoodViewed with disdain by other faiths

King Charles II owed vast sums to the Penn familyGranted Pennsylvania to Penn

Penn saw his colony as providing ahaven for all

Settled at first by Quakers

The Colony of PeaceQuakers committed to nonviolence

Penn took this idea to his colonyRequired all trade with Native Americans to be

completely open and honestPromoted peace in all dealingsPlanned the settlement of Philadelphia

Religious TolerationPennsylvania open to settlement by all

Quakers refused to discriminate over beliefExtended to other social reforms

Growing dislike over slaveryPromotion of social causes