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Religious Requirements for Voting
In the 1600’s, many colonies didn’t allow you to vote unless you were an adult male landowner who was also a member of the local state church. By the end of the 1600s, most colonies had already gotten rid of religious voting requirements but kept the other restrictions. -
The Pilgrims
The Pilgrims were generous and tolerant people that came to Plymouth, where they had the first Thanksgiving with the Native Americans. They moved in 1620 mainly because they were persecuted in England, but unlike the Puritans, the Pilgrims still did things like wear English clothes. -
Puritans
The Puritans were persecuted in England since they wanted to "purify" the church system. When they arrived, they were intolerant and leaders strictly controlled behavior. -
Maryland
Lord Baltimore was given a lot of land in America in 1632, so he used this to set up a place for Catholics to live without persecution. While Catholics became a minority in the area, they were tolerant of other religions in the area. -
Dissent in Massachusetts Bay
The Puritans enforced their views of Christianity harshly, but Anne said that some of these beliefs would not work since God has already predetermined your fate. In 1637, a court found her guilty of heresy and kicked her out of the colony, which lead to her moving to the new colony of Rhode Island. -
More Dissent in Massachusetts Bay
Roger Williams was kicked out from Massachusetts for saying that church and state should be separated and taking land from Native Americans without payment was unfair. In 1636, he bought land from the Narragansett Native Americans and formed the colony of Rhode Island, a place with complete religious freedom. -
Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Quakers, who believed in equality and peace, were persecuted in England due to their beliefs. This caused Quakers to move to Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn for religious freedom, and New Jersey. -
The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening is when people like George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley encouraged the colonists to ignore the Enlightenment and favor religious thinking. They also had really dramatic sermons that increased interest in religion. -
Virginia Statutes for Religious Freedom
In 1786, Virginia passed the Virginia Statutes for Religious freedom, which separated church and state so people wouldn’t have to spend taxpayer money on churches they didn’t support. In addition, the statues called for religious freedom and influenced other places to do the same thing.
